NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving students enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges. This funding covers tuition and registration fees. Students also receive several allowances for food, accommodation, and learning materials.
According to the government bursary scheme, R10,000 of the R13,800 paid to some TVET College students in April was intended for accommodation providers.
NSFAS says the payment error occurred due to discrepancies in student lists provided by solution partners and institutional confirmations.
This list is subsequently verified by the institution to determine whether students qualify for NSFAS-accredited accommodation or transport.
The explained, “Unfortunately, some students who received direct payments were not included in this global list, nor were they confirmed by the institution on time as eligible for accommodation. Consequently, allowances were disbursed to these students”.
The scheme is now urging TVET College students who received these funds and reside in NSFAS-accredited accommodation, to immediately pay their landlords. NSFAS further called on institutions to assist students with required information for payments.
In light of this situation, NSFAS kindly requests that institutions promptly inform students residing in NSFAS-accredited accommodation, who have received these funds intended for accommodation, to settle their outstanding payments with their landlords as soon as possible.
Students must obtain their payment details from their landlords, including the accredited amount, and provide proof of payment to their Financial Aid Offices.
Failure to pay accommodation allowances to landlords can result in eviction or deductions from future NSFAS allowances.
Please be aware that failure to do so may result in eviction or deductions from future allowances.
NSFAS has provided institutions with full remittance details and encourages students to act quickly to resolve the issue.
