NSFAS has now given themselves the task of improving and making things better for the students, this includes some changes with the application system.
During a briefing where the NSFAS board was being introduced to the Portfolio Committee, the new NSFAS Chairperson, Mr Khosa, said:
We got complaints from our main stakeholder and our main stakeholder remains the student.
NSFAS Applications
During the briefing, it was also announced that NSFAS will be enhancing the applications portal. Students will then be able to get real time answers about where their application is.
We have commissioned an application system and process that will make real time funding eligibility decisions.
The new application system will be in place for 2022 applications.
Applications for funding through NSFAS usually opens in August or September and closes in November or December of the same year.
Appeals will also be immediate for applicants with NSFAS announcing, "a new appeal portal will be introduced in the second semester".
NSFAS Allowances
Students have complained that some of them are seeing delays with their allowances with many not having received any allowances this year yet. This of course has a major impact on the daily functioning of students as they depend on NSFAS for both their studies and day to day lives.
NSFAS CEO, Mr Andile Nongogo, gave the following update:
We are continuing to receive registration data from institutions to process which will allow us to be able to make more payments for students.
We as NSFAS engage with institutions regularly on different platforms and when guidelines are prepared, these are finalized with the institutions," said Nongogo .
NSFAS is said to have paid Universities upfront at the beginning of the year so that they could cover allowances while the registration period, which was extended nationwide, was taking place.
How to contact NSFAS
Fortunately, NSFAS has reopened their Contact Centre and are accepting calls again. Should you want to talk to a NSFAS representative for some help you can call the toll-free number: 0800 06 7327
You can also send NSFAS a message through their social media pages. Be sure to include your ID number with your query. Their social media pages are as follows:
- Facebook: nsfas.org.za
- Twitter: @myNSFAS
- Instagram: @myNSFAS
The NSFAS walk-in centre in Wynberg, Cape Town is also open should you want face-to-face assistance.
NSFAS was funding 254 826 students in 2017, before it was changed to a bursary scheme, and now in 2021, 1 263 671 students qualify to be funded by NSFAS.
Of this, 712 428 are first-time entering students and 551 243 are returning students.
The almost 1.3 million students are made up of 940 226 University students and 323 445 TVET students,
NSFAS Board and PCHET Briefing Statement pic.twitter.com/WBZtSuCi7B
— NSFAS (@myNSFAS) May 19, 2021
