The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has confirmed that it has paid out R621 million in student allowances to 203 653 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college students.
This payment follows NSFAS’s commitment made on 17 April 2026 and forms part of ongoing efforts to ensure students receive their allowances on time, helping to support uninterrupted teaching and learning.
Some Students Excluded Due To Data Issues
While the majority of payments were successfully processed, NSFAS revealed that around 12 000 students were excluded from this payment cycle.
According to the scheme, these exclusions were due to data inconsistencies identified during routine verification processes between college records and NSFAS systems.
NSFAS is now working closely with affected TVET colleges to resolve these issues and determine whether a supplementary payment will be made once all records have been corrected.
“NSFAS is actively assisting all affected colleges in reviewing and correcting student records. Regional working sessions with college staff commenced [this week], with priority given to resolving outstanding data issues. Upon receipt of verified and corrected data, we encourage institutions to expedite data correction to ensure eligible students are included in upcoming disbursements,” NSFAS said.
Measures Introduced To Prevent Payment Delays
To avoid further disruptions, NSFAS has introduced additional support measures. This includes deploying specialist teams to colleges across the country to assist with resolving outstanding data challenges.
“We are [also] strengthening collaboration with all institutions to ensure accurate and timely data submission, which is critical for efficient allowance disbursement and to prevent future delays.”
NSFAS Urges Colleges To Act Quickly
NSFAS has urged colleges to prioritise the correction of student data to ensure all qualifying students receive their allowances without delay.
The scheme also reaffirmed its commitment to improving service delivery and maintaining transparency throughout the process.
“NSFAS values the partnership with stakeholders and remains committed to the principles of transparency, accountability, and student-centred service delivery. We appreciate the cooperation and patience of all parties as we work towards a swift resolution,” the scheme said.
Students who have not yet received their allowances are encouraged to stay in contact with their colleges for updates on their payment status.
