The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has announced that more than 70,000 eligible students will now be allowed to register after the scheme's Administrator approved their funding.
The decision was confirmed by NSFAS Administrator Professor Hlengani Mathebula, who said the move follows months of work to address operational challenges affecting the student financial aid scheme.
NSFAS Clears Thousands Of Students For Registration
Professor Mathebula revealed that approximately 72,000 students studying at Universities of Technology, as well as UNISA, had been waiting for clarity on whether they would be permitted to register.
He explained that these students fall into categories that include top-up funding and second registrations, and that they qualify for NSFAS funding in terms of government policy.
The announcement comes after Mathebula submitted his NSFAS Stabilisation Plan to the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, outlining measures to improve the scheme's operations and service delivery.
Decision Based On NSFAS Eligibility Criteria
According to Mathebula, the decision was taken because the affected students meet the requirements for NSFAS funding.
“In three months, I have worked around the clock to meet over 20 stakeholders. That is from students, unions, universities, SRCs, everybody that interacts with NSFAS. I’ve had to meet them. You have 72,000 students across the University of Technologies that are on top-ups and second registration, inclusive of UNISA. Those students have been waiting for NSFAS to be able to say, ‘can we register? Can’t we register?’ But because they qualify in terms of NSFAS criteria and government policy. I’ve taken a decision that we will pay those students, we’ll allow those universities to register,” Mathebula elaborates.
Administrator Focuses On Stabilising NSFAS
Professor Mathebula, who became the third NSFAS Administrator appointed since 2018, said he has spent the past three months engaging extensively with stakeholders across the higher education sector.
He explained that discussions have included students, student representative councils (SRCs), labour unions and university representatives as part of efforts to understand the challenges facing the scheme and improve its operations.
The stabilisation plan presented to the Minister outlines a series of interventions aimed at strengthening governance, improving operational efficiency and ensuring eligible students receive their funding without unnecessary delays.
The latest decision is expected to provide relief to thousands of students who had been unable to complete their registration while awaiting confirmation of their NSFAS funding.
