The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) received 1 587 968 applications from prospective bursary recipients for the 2023 academic year’s funding.
In this high volume of applications, a total of 300 803 applications have been rejected for a number of reasons, such as applicants not yet finalising their pending the submission of certain documents.
Some of the documents that were required as part of the 2023 funding cycle, includes the applicant's ID copy or birth certificate, ID copies of parents, guardian or spouse (or death certificate where applicable), proof of income, just to mention a few.
The Scheme has urged rejected applicants to appeal within 30 days after the receipt of the application outcome.
In a statement, Nsfas has announced:
Students who have received rejection notices have been advised to lodge their appeals, so that the issues behind their rejection can be investigated and finalised.
An Independent Tribunal has been established to provide effective management of appeals from students whose applications for funding have been rejected, or students who've had their funding discontinued, in the case of continuing students.
The appointed tribunal will be chaired by Advocate Tommy Ntsewa, joined by Yonke Twani, Zodwa Kula, Lubabalo Ndzoyiya, Lukhanyo Daweti Nhlonipho Nxumalo, Wongani Mgwali, and Thabelo Mofokeng.
This team represents a cross-section of stakeholders such as South African Progressive Civic Organisation, South African Union of Students, South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training Student Association, including the Department of Higher Education and Training.
The government bursary scheme has confirmed that the tribunal will commence with the appeal process in the upcoming week.
Students who will be submitting their appeals, will need to do so by lodging their appeals application online via their myNsfas account by clicking on it.
Students will now also need to complete a relevant propensity letter in order to lodge an appeal.
Here are the propensity letters available to download:
- Failure to meet academic eligibility (PDF)
- Appealing N+1 (PDF)
- N+2 students with disability (PDF)
- Registered for 50% or less (final year course credits) to complete (PDF)
According to Dr. Blade Nzimande, Minister of the Department of Higher Education and Training, Science and Innovation, Nsfas funding appeals applications submitted via email will not be accepted.
