Supporting Students Towards a Journey to Success

01 | 05 | 2025

10 April 2025 

To all students at the Central University Of Technology, Free State

Noting Student Challenges and  Supporting Student Success

CUT has celebrated the graduation of the class of 2025 as part of our ongoing efforts to support student success. Our alumni have now grown, and this provides an opportunity to recognise the milestones achieved through the challenges we have collectively navigated as a university community. The Office of the Dean of Students wishes to communicate with students about the work the university is undertaking to aid student success.

We have weathered a period of turbulence, and the university is working to re-engineer our systems to establish an environment that serves students. This requires all of us to work together and address systemic barriers to enhance the student experience. In this context, student feedback is integral to renewing our institutional culture and improving the quality of services.

I therefore call upon students at large to pay attention to the issues below as follows.

Facilitating Landlord Payments

CUT is working with stakeholders to facilitate payments to accredited and non-accredited landlords. This process takes time, and the university has committed, in the Student Finance Committee meeting on 08 April 2025, to ensure the availability of FUNDI to address administrative issues causing delays.

In principle, there is work in progress daily to facilitate these payments and the commitment based on the SFC decision will unlock the challenges relating to delays. We expect to see progress on this matter within a week.

NSFAS Accommodation Rates for 2025

The university and all parties facilitating accommodation and allowance payments are guided by the NSFAS tariff list for 2025. During sufficiently early engagements with the SRC, CUT noted the reduction of the non-accredited accommodation rate to R2500, which has significantly impacted the Welkom Campus students. The university will work with the SRC to investigate how other affected universities are approaching this matter and will engage with NSFAS to express the inconvenience caused and explore potential solutions. It should be noted that all allowances are paid in line with the NSFAS rates for 2025. 

The FUNDI platform for application of non-accredited accommodation allowance is now open. The information published on the website on 20 March 2025, Fundi Accommodation Payment Platform: A Guide for Students and Landlords includes step-by-step guides for landlords and students.  Further to that, this communication serves to notify that the FUNDI Unaccredited Merchants - Landlord Guide 2025 (PDF) was added to the announcement on 10 April 2025.

Continued NSFAS on-site Services

The university supports the presence of NSFAS officials on our two campuses to accelerate service delivery to students, aligning with our commitment to student centricity. The university is communicating with NSFAS, given that there are officials allocated to the Free State Province.

Call for Discipline and Adherence to Good Conduct

The university upholds the spirit of humanity, and we call upon students to maintain discipline and good conduct as part of nation-building. As we updated the university community on the matter regarding the CUT FM Station Manager, we ask students to align with the university's statement and actions taken. The university is following due processes to address this matter, and we expect students to respect the proceedings as we continue to nurture our constitutional democracy. We ask for patience as this process must be protected and handled with integrity.

Enhancing Residences Quality

Providing quality student accommodation is fundamental to the student experience. The university has established a turnaround strategy to expedite maintenance and equipment provision. Residence Managers are identifying shortages, and needed equipment such as mattresses are being purchased where needed. A master plan integrating maintenance is being developed as part of the current institutional improvement strategies. We will update the student community as these developments unfold.

A Call for Continued Engagement

The university is committed to engaging with students through relevant channels, including the SRC, which serves as the mouthpiece of the students. We remain open to constructive engagements, and I call upon students to focus on their goals while we ensure that their experiences remain our priority.

As we work together to pursue excellence in turbulent times, our unity is what intends to guide us as we gravitate to success in pursued of student centricity

Issued by
Dr B.K. Sebake
CUT's Dean of Students