For thousands of students across South Africa, the new academic year has started with uncertainty rather than excitement.
Instead of focusing on classes and campus life, many are desperately searching for accommodation.
The shortage of student housing has become one of the biggest challenges facing universities today. Many students relocate from other provinces to study and rely on campus residences because they have no support network nearby.
However, universities simply cannot meet the growing demand.
Insights shared in recent coverage by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reveal that South Africa currently needs more than 500,000 additional student beds to meet demand nationwide.
At the University of Johannesburg, the gap between demand and supply is especially clear. For the 2026 academic year, nearly 100,000 students applied for university accommodation, but the campus has only just over 7,000 beds available.
As a result, thousands of students must turn to private housing options. Many of these properties are poorly regulated, raising concerns about safety, overcrowding, and basic living conditions.
In extreme cases, students have reportedly spent nights sleeping in lecture halls or at SRC offices while waiting for placement.
Residence allocation policies also add pressure. First-year students are often given priority, leaving postgraduate and unfunded students struggling to secure accommodation.
At the University of the Witwatersrand, SRC president Gilbert Nchabeleng says many available housing options remain unaffordable for students funded by NSFAS or those from the “missing middle”.
Students across the country are now calling for urgent government intervention to solve the growing student housing crisis.
