The march follows a series of protest action from a number of institutions this month over allowances and several other issues.
Members of at least 14 Student Representative councils (SRCs) in the country participated and went to hand over a memorandum of demands to NSFAS officials, raising concerns and issues that they want urgently addressed.
University of Free State SRC deputy president, Tsephang Bambo stressed:
The students that are here they are struggling…they haven’t even received their meal allowances let alone accommodation allowances and learning materials.
One of their main concerns is the distribution of student allowances through the new NSFAS bank account system – a move that students are vehemently rejecting. They claim it will result in "more delays of pay-outs".
NSFAS partnered with Coinvest, Tenet Technology, eZaga and Norraca to distribute student allowances via the NSFAS Mastercard.
University of the Western Cape (UWC) SRC president, Mandla-Onke Notyawa, said that this would cause confusion for students and open the process to corruption.
University students are set to be onboarded onto the new payment system as of Thursday 1 June 2023.
List of Demands
Reading out some of their demands, UCT SRC president Hlengiwe Dube said students were calling for:
- The decentralisation of NSFAS administration.
- The removal of the less-than-60-credits rule as per the NSFAS funding renewal guidelines, and immediate full funding for all students affected by the rule; and
- the immediate removal of the board and CEO of NSFAS, and for NSFAS to be put under administration.
- An immediate end to NSFAS direct payment system and for institutions to continue their payment system to students.
- The cap on student accommodation and allowances be scrapped entirely.
NSFAS chief financial officer (CFO) Masile Ramorwesi and spokesperson Slumezi Skosana stood outside the offices as Dube read the memorandum of demands which was approved by all the students involved.
The schemes representatives vowed to respond to students' demands within 48 hours.
Accepting the memorandum Ramorwesi noted: “I accept this memorandum. I heard it as it was being read out, pointing out the 16 issues. We commit to respond to the issues as presented within the next 48 hours in writing.”
Student leaders have expressed they will meet and decide on a plan of action after receiving feedback from the bursary scheme.
