The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) continues to grapple with significant challenges, affecting thousands of students across South Africa's universities.
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The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) continues to grapple with significant challenges, affecting thousands of students across South African universities.
Delays in funding disbursements, unresolved applications, and communication failures have left many students in precarious situations, unable to access necessities such as food and accommodation on time.
This issue has become a recurring problem in the higher education sector. Institutions such as the Durban University of Technology (DUT), where many students rely on NSFAS funding, have expressed frustration over the ongoing delays and complications.
Sphelele Mdlalose, a student at DUT, highlighted the hurdles many face due to NSFAS inefficiencies.
“It hasn’t affected me much, but I’ve seen many students struggle because they can’t afford registration fees,” Mdlalose said. “This leads to them missing registration deadlines or being rejected by the institution. NSFAS delays have particularly impacted students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who often cannot register on time.”
Students dependent on NSFAS often find themselves attending classes on empty stomachs.
“The delays in allowances mean that students lack proper meals and struggle to participate effectively in their studies,” Mdlalose said. “To prevent such delays, NSFAS should consider opening offices in towns with universities so that students can access support easily.”
Quinton Sithole, a third-year drama student, echoed these concerns, saying NSFAS delays create a domino effect.
“We all know how hard it is to study on an empty stomach,” Sithole said. “If you don’t have food, you lack the energy to focus, and this leads to poor academic performance. Ultimately, students risk financial exclusion if they fail.”
While DUT’s SRC provides grants to assist students, Sithole noted that support is not universal.
“NSFAS needs to finalise its processes before registration starts so students can receive their allowances in February when classes begin,” he said. “Currently, many students only receive meal allowances in March or April, putting them at a disadvantage early in the academic year.”
Sbani Somafika, representing the Durban branch of the MK Student Movement, criticised both NSFAS and higher education institutions for their systemic failures.
“Returning students haven’t been coded for registration, and they are blocked for financial reasons,” Somafika said. “This shows the incompetence of the institutions and the SRC.”
Somafika called for urgent reforms, including reopening NSFAS applications for 2025 to accommodate students who have already registered but remain unfunded.
“No student should need to apply for a bursary or loan—free education is the solution,” he said.
The ongoing dispute between NSFAS and the Private Student Housing Association (PSHA) has further complicated matters. NSFAS recently stated that many accommodation providers have not been paid, leaving students in limbo.
NSFAS administrator Freeman Nomvalo urged affected providers to submit outstanding claims for verification, promising that legitimate claims would be processed promptly. However, students continue to bear the brunt of these administrative delays.
DUT’s media officer, Simangele Zuma, said the university’s financial aid unit has been proactive in engaging with NSFAS to resolve funding issues for approximately 300 returning students in 2024.
“Currently, there are no known students left in limbo, and the academic year is scheduled to commence on Monday, 10 February 2025,” Zuma said.
“Students are expected to arrive at their respective residences on the weekend of 8 and 9 February 2025. The necessary data has been shared with NSFAS to facilitate funding decisions for 2025,” she added.
According to DUT, weekly meetings are held with NSFAS to address challenges promptly. “We are committed to working collaboratively with NSFAS to minimise any potential negative impacts on students,” Zuma said.
Despite widespread concerns, NSFAS spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi refuted claims of funding delays.
“There are no delays in the funding of students for the academic year. Payments will be disbursed based on validated registration data received from universities,” Mnisi said.
He explained that NSFAS had processed initial upfront payments to universities on 10 January to support students during registration.
“The upfront payment is based on 2024 registration data received, calculated as one month’s allowances and 50% for books. This translates to approximately 9.5% of the 2025 university allocation of R39 billion—totalling R3.7 billion for universities and R641 million for colleges,” Mnisi said.
Addressing concerns about funding gaps, Mnisi reiterated, “There are no delays. NSFAS makes payments based on valid registration data submitted by public institutions of higher learning.”
Regarding the potential increase in grants to keep up with rising costs, Mnisi said, “The increase in allowances is determined by the Department of Higher Education and Training. NSFAS’s responsibility is to disburse approved allowances.”
On ensuring transparency and accountability, NSFAS maintained that it adheres to strict procedures, with universities playing a key role in managing student allowances.
“NSFAS pays allowances directly to institutions, which are responsible for distributing payments to students,” Mnisi said.
Despite NSFAS’s assurances, students continue to experience significant hardships. With registration deadlines approaching and the academic year about to begin, unresolved funding issues remain a pressing concern.
While institutions like DUT are actively working to mitigate the impact, calls for systemic reform and better financial aid management continue to grow. Students and advocacy groups insist that without urgent intervention, these annual disruptions will persist, leaving thousands struggling to access education.
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