Although the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) made promises of a smooth-sailing academic year, this hasn't been the case.
The plan was, according to NSFAS Spokesperson, Slumezi Skosana, that there would've been an early transferring of NSFAS money to institutions of higher learning, to ensure that students receive allowances when the 2023 academic year commences.
The scheme is notoriously delayed when it comes to disbursing funds to its qualifying students, and this year was no different.
This delay with NSFAS was one of the reasons why students at various tertiary institutions took protest action, as they were unable to successfully register for the year, due to the appearance of financial blocks/exclusions.
Skosana explained that delays in payment of allowances sometimes occur when institutions don’t provide NSFAS with the registration data of students.
According to the bursary scheme, the majority of students who were not yet paid is due to the late submission of funding data by tertiary institutions.
NSFAS has begun distributing its money to tertiary institutions (both TVET colleges and universities) for its disbursement to qualifying students, beginning on 31 January 2023.
A second upfront payment to tertiary institutions was made on 6 March 2023, and was paid while institutions were still finalising allowance allocations and claims for the registration data.
Skosana added that NSFAS has now published the funding list, which lists students that are approved to receive financial aid from the scheme. Institutions now have access to this funding list, which allows for them to quickly verify if a student is funded by NSFAS, and therefore receive their allowances.
Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, has agreed to increase the allowances distributed to NSFAS-funded students, after the bursary scheme presented it to him. This was after consultation with various stakeholders within the Higher Education Sector.
NSFAS students receive several allowances that aim to cover the costs related to their studies. This includes a learning material allowance, a living allowance and an accommodation allowance.
Nzimande explained that the NSFAS living allowance will be increased by 10%, and is now valued at R16 500 for university students.
"After concurrence by the Minister of the 10% increase in allowances, institutions have started to load registration data inclusive of this confirmed increase," stated NSFAS.
In addition to the welcomed increases, the NSFAS accommodation allowance was capped at R45 000 this year, which is paid over a year with students needing to find accommodation equal to or less than R4 500 per month.
The accommodation allowance cap was introduced to manage unregulated costs and prevent profiteering and price collusion by private student accommodation providers, explained the South African Union of Students (SAUS).
