Students are now in the process of receiving their funding decisions and receiving their NSFAS allowances.
Following engagements with the Minister of Higher Education, the national shutdown has been called off by the South African Union of Students (SAUS) and some demands concerning NSFAS have been met.
Allowances
SAUS is satisfied and sure that students will be looked after. This would mean that they will receive the allowances they deserve.
19 universities out of 26 are now giving students their NSFAS meal and accommodation allowances.
Registration
Mugabe said there was a R7 billion cut from NSFAS and that this cut lead to first time entering students not being able to register as there were no funding decisions available.
NSFAS was in a position where they had inadequate funds for first time entering students and then had to delay the process of sending out funding decisions.
The Minister of Higher Education then announced that money within the department will be reallocated to fund these students and students have since been receiving their funding decisions and are able to register.
Due to this delay, all Universities extended their registration deadlines by two weeks.
All NSFAS funded students are now being allowed to register without having to pay the Minimum Initial Payment (MIP) or registration fees, said SAUS in a statement.
SAUS BRINGS AN END TO THE #NATIONALSHUTDOWN OF UNIVERSITIES WITH EFFECT FROM THE 31ST OF MARCH 2021. Following the...
Posted by South African Union of Students on Wednesday, 31 March 2021
Laptops
Before the end of April, students will start receiving laptops promised to them by NSFAS.
SAUS will join the distribution team to make sure that all deserving students receive their devices on time.
Due to the loss in academic teaching and learning time, the Union believed that should the national shutdown continue, students would then end up not meeting academic requirements for NSFAS funding.
The national shutdown began on 15 March and has now come to an end.
