Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane confirmed that these unpaid students are all from a single institution. She said NSFAS aims to resolve the issue by 30 April.
We acknowledge that a specific group of approximately 800 students at a specific institution is experiencing challenges with the transfer of funds. The Scheme is committed to rectifying this matter by 30 April 2025,
She apologised for the delays and emphasised the importance of timely payments.
We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused by the delays in allowances – delayed payments are unacceptable. We recognise the impact of these delays, as students depend entirely on their allowances for living expenses.
Earlier this month, NSFAS dismissed online reports of payment delays as fake news. The scheme said such reports were “fabricated” and aimed at causing “unnecessary confusion.”
Ironically, the warnings turned out to be somewhat accurate. Payments were made a day late, and students only received their allowances on Sunday.
While most TVET College students have now been paid, the 800 students remain affected.
NSFAS is actively collaborating with its financial services institution to resolve this issue and prevent any recurrence in the coming months.
NSFAS urged students to rely only on official updates via their website and verified platforms.
