The newly appointed National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Administrator, Professor Hlengani Mathebula, is set to present the organisation's long-awaited NSFAS Stabilisation Report to the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Kgwaridi Manamela, this week.
The presentation will provide an update on the progress made since Mathebula's appointment and outline the interventions aimed at improving the management and operations of the student financial aid scheme.
Students Cannot Graduate
The student finance fund is integral to the post-school education sector and the status of the organisation will be of interest to multiple parties. Student leaders have been campaigning around the number of students who have completed their studies but cannot graduate because of shortfalls in their NSFAS funding.
Universities South Africa (USAF) reported to parliament in May 2026 that 188,209 university certificates are being withheld because of unpaid fees
University leaders have also been complaining about the significant funds that are owed to universities, which they claim are putting the stability of the institutions in peril.
NSFAS Stabilisation Report To Be Presented On 4 August
Professor Mathebula, who was appointed as NSFAS Administrator in May 2026, was tasked with leading the organisation through a period of stabilisation, operational continuity and institutional renewal.
In line with the terms of his appointment published in the Government Gazette, the Administrator is required to submit an initial stabilisation plan to the Minister within three months of taking office.
The report will be presented on Tuesday, 4 August 2026.
What Will The NSFAS Stabilisation Plan Include?
The stabilisation plan is expected to outline the priority interventions that will guide NSFAS over the coming months.
According to the Government Gazette, the plan must address several key areas, including:
- Student accommodation issues
- Audit remedial priorities.
- Consequence management priorities.
- ICT and data integration priorities.
- Immediate operational continuity.
The report will also set out the Administrator's leadership approach and the implementation strategy that will be used to deliver these reforms.
NSFAS To Provide A 90-Day Performance Update
In addition to presenting the stabilisation plan, Professor Mathebula will provide an update on NSFAS's performance during his first 90 days as Administrator.
The briefing is expected to cover progress made in several critical areas, including:
- Student funding administration.
- Governance improvements.
- Financial management.
- Operational performance.
- Key interventions aimed at improving service delivery for students and higher education institutions.
Focus On Strengthening NSFAS
Mathebula's appointment marked an important step in government's efforts to restore stability and improve the effectiveness of NSFAS, which provides financial assistance to eligible students studying at South Africa's public universities and TVET colleges.
The stabilisation report is expected to outline how the organisation plans to strengthen its governance, improve operational efficiency and enhance the delivery of student funding services, while ensuring greater accountability and compliance across the scheme.
