The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funded more than 500 000 university students in 2024. This exceeded its initial target of funding 417 938 university students.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela described this as an overachievement by NSFAS and is a clear indication of the government’s commitment to expanding access to higher education.
Ensuring that students from working-class and poor backgrounds receive financial support remains a top priority for this government. Despite budgetary constraints, we have exceeded our initial NSFAS targets, which means that more students than ever before are benefiting from free higher education,
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving students enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges.
However, the work done by NSFAS has been undermined due to corruption concerns and administrative challenges.
The Department of Higher Education and Training is confident that the appointment of a new board will improve the efficiency of allowance payments, student verification processes, and institutional accountability.
The scheme has faced scrutiny following the dissolution of its previous board and placement under administration.
The previous NSFAS board was dismissed by former Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande due to funding challenges, administrative inefficiencies, and concerns about corruption.
These issues led to delayed allowance disbursements, frustrated students, and the alleged involvement of the former CEO in a corruption scandal.
Other contributing factors included a lack of institutional capacity and the board’s failure to implement recommendations from the Werksmans Report, which exposed irregular service provider contracts that delayed critical student allowances for food and accommodation.
In April 2024, Nzimande appointed Freeman Nomvalo as NSFAS administrator after dissolving the board and placing NSFAS under administration due to its failure to pay student allowances.
Nomvalo’s term ended when the new NSFAS board was appointed in February 2025. This was in line with the terms of reference of the administration period. The appointment of a new board was followed up by the installation of Waseem Carrim as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
