Thuto House: A funding model de-risking investment in student accommodation

Officials say Thuto House student accommodation demonstrates what can be achieved when entrepreneurial talent is partnered with government institutions. Gwen Nkosi Co-owner of Greyline Holdings, the company which built Thuto House student accommodation, said when the project only existed on paper, many saw risk. She said the Gaunteng Partnership Fund (GPF) and National Empowerment Fund (NEF) saw the potential in student accommodation located in the township and would be close to modern amenities such as Soshanguve Crossing Mall, Tswane University of Technology and other TVET colleges.

The residence was completed in 2024 with a 424-bedroom capacity. Over a year later, Thuto House has an 80% occupancy rate, housing 366 students. The project’s funding scheme included blended finance with the GPF and the NEF.

Officials said the funding provided investment where the private sector was not willing. At a recent launch ceremony of the student residence, beneficiaries said the building supports a balanced student life. They said proximity to the mall, TUT and other TVET colleges makes daily life easier, convenient and safe.

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Unveiling the residence plaque, MEC for human settlements Tasneen Motara said the project funders were setting a leading example that demonstrates what is possible when the government aligns capacity with empowerment. Motara said parents can sleep comfortably at night knowing their children are safe. “Housing and education are inseparable.

This project recognises that reality,” she said. Gauteng has a demand for close to half a million beds, said Motara, highlighting the need for more student accommodation. “We stand ready to enter into more agreements,” said Motara.

Thuto House forms part of the province’s goal to reduce inequality in the townships, said Motara, by shortening the distance between school and living, and improving academic outcomes. “We are proud that this project is located in Soshanguve, a township with a rich history and potential,” she said. Motara said the project sends a message to the youth that the province believes in them, adding she hopes the project will be the foundation of an extraordinary journey in township transformation. Tswane’s member of the mayoral committee for Human Settlement Alderman Maluleke, said the project not only provides accommodation but also safety, which enhances the learning environment for students to excel in their studies.

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