The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has paid more than R222 million to six universities for the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme, benefiting thousands of students.
The payment is expected to help universities process outstanding Funza Lushaka bursary allowances owed to eligible beneficiaries.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Training confirmed that NSFAS paid R222,688,894 to six universities as part of the latest disbursement under the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme.
The payment was confirmed during Deputy Minister Yusuf Cassim’s meeting with senior NSFAS officials and the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme team in Cape Town on Thursday.
Which Universities Received Funza Lushaka Bursary Payments?
The latest NSFAS payment was made to the following six universities:
- Central University of Technology
- North-West University
- University of Fort Hare
- University of Limpopo
- University of Pretoria
- University of South Africa (Unisa)
A total of 2,927 students are expected to benefit from the payment.
The universities are now responsible for processing and paying the relevant allowances to Funza Lushaka bursary beneficiaries.
Deputy Minister Cassim has urged NSFAS to communicate with the institutions and confirm when all affected students will receive their allowances.
“These payments must now reach students without delay so they can focus on their studies and not have to worry about outstanding allowances that have been pending for months. I appreciate the work being done by the NSFAS and the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme teams to expedite this process,” Deputy Minister Cassim said.
Funza Lushaka Bursary Allowances
The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme provides financial support to students pursuing teaching qualifications at participating universities.
The multi-year bursary programme is funded by the Department of Basic Education, with NSFAS acting as the disbursement agency responsible for transferring funds to universities.
For the 2026 academic year, 23 universities have been allocated R1.3 billion through the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme.
The funding covers several study-related expenses, including tuition fees, accommodation, meals, learning materials and a living allowance.
The latest intervention follows concerns from Funza Lushaka bursary beneficiaries regarding delays in receiving their allowances.
Outstanding Funza Lushaka Claims
During the meeting, NSFAS provided an update on the claims process and indicated that a significant number of institutional claims remain outstanding.
According to the Ministry, the payment process takes approximately four weeks because claims must undergo verification checks to ensure that they are valid before funds are released.
Universities and other participating institutions have therefore been urged to submit their claims as soon as possible to prevent further delays in students receiving their Funza Lushaka allowances.
For August, claims worth R295,988,585 for 3,095 students had been uploaded for processing for the September payment cycle.
These payments are expected to be processed in September through the normal NSFAS processes.
The Funza Lushaka programme also has more than R500 million in unclaimed funds. Institutions have been given until 13 September 2026 to submit claims for payment in October.
Deputy Minister Cassim has instructed NSFAS to contact institutions with outstanding claims and request confirmation that Funza Lushaka bursary recipients will receive their allowances without interruption.
Institutions will also need to confirm whether their outstanding claims will be submitted by the deadline.
