What was once three apartment blocks managed through a family-owned trust in downtown Bloemfontein, is planned to become innovative shared accommodation catering for up to 300 residents to help meet the increasing demand for cost-effective, secure, and multi-purpose living in one of South Africa’s rapidly growing student towns.

Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande says even addressing maintenance backlogs in student accommodation without adding new infrastructure will cost R4,4bn