Dear Mr. Sauls,

I write to you as a distressed small business owner who has been providing student accommodation to NSFAS-funded students at CUT FS in Bloemfontein for the past four years.

Currently, I am accommodating 10 NSFAS-eligible students, all of whom were vetted to ensure compliance with funding requirements. My properties have consistently met accreditation standards and were again inspected in January 2025, with confirmation that everything was in order. These properties are situated within 1 km of the main campus and have been part of the accredited accommodation list in previous years.

In line with NSFAS payment cycles, I began housing students at the end of January 2025, allowing early check-ins to support their transition and academic stability. This has been part of my business model for years, and it has helped me retain students from one academic year to the next.

Despite my full compliance with accreditation and registration processes—including submission of all documentation and uploading details on FUNDI as per instructions—I have not received a single payment from CUT to date. My latest invoice (No. 3), submitted on 5 May 2025, brings the total outstanding amount to R187,720.00.

This amount may seem modest, but for a small business like mine, it is significant. It has placed a severe strain on our operations, forcing me to lay off two staff members. I am now managing all tasks myself, trying to preserve what limited resources remain.

It is deeply disheartening that working with a public institution results in such disregard for small, compliant businesses. The lack of transparency and communication, along with apparent gatekeeping, has made it increasingly difficult to sustain this venture—one that supports student welfare and contributes to local development.

I have followed your public engagements with interest and respect your leadership role. I now humbly seek your urgent intervention. CUT FS is not just delaying payments; it is jeopardising livelihoods, stifling small enterprise growth, and undermining the very purpose of NSFAS-funded support.

All I ask is for CUT FS to honour the services rendered and pay the outstanding amount owed. I have built and invested significantly in this business and still believe in its potential to grow—if given a fair chance.

This delay has not only affected my ability to run the business effectively but has also made it impossible for me to honour my financial obligations, including salaries, maintenance, and supplier payments. I am on the brink of financial collapse—not due to mismanagement, but because a public institution refuses to pay for services it continues to benefit from. The emotional and financial toll is immense, and I appeal to you sincerely for urgent action.

I would be grateful for any assistance or direction you can provide in resolving this matter.