Students at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in the Eastern Cape have been left frustrated as they have yet to receive funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Recent protest action at the Gqeberha campus turned violent and 12 students were subsequently arrested after reportedly throwing stones at police officers.
NSFAS provides funding for students who are unable to afford their tertiary education on their own and cover costs such as accommodation, tuition, transport, as well as meal and textbook allowances. However, as these allowances are yet to be paid to students, many have been evicted from their residences or had their electricity turned off.
Some students are squatting in rooms with other students, while others have been left hungry. Students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) were in a similar situation last month, when they had still not received their allowances even though a full academic term had passed.
Despite being months into the academic year, there are still some students who are yet to receive their funding from NSFAS, although their NSFAS applications had been accepted.
These students are allowed to attend lectures, but are unable to register until NSFAS pays out their allowances. This has left students anxious about what is going to happen during exam season, which is just around the corner. Students are also stressed about what this means for them when they are due to receive their qualifications at the end of the year.
Students are fed with NSFAS and various stakeholders constantly attending board meetings and having discussions on the issue when they have still not found a solution. Students are calling for the University to pressure NSFAS into paying these allowances so that they can continue with the academic year.
NSFAS is notorious for delays, and has failed to meet promised deadlines numerous times this year alone, leaving thousands of students stranded.
University Protests
2023 in particular has seen extensive criticism aimed at the funding scheme as delays in processing applications, dealing with appeals and paying out allowances have caused a serious headache for students reliant on this funding to further their education.
These protests, which have been ongoing since the beginning of the year, are not unique to NMU, and a multitude of issues relating to NSFAS have triggered protests at universities across the country, resulting in chaos on a number of campuses.
NSFAS has also been slammed with allegations of corruption, misallocation of funds and fraudulent behaviour that has seen billions of rands inappropriately spent, while deserving students suffer.
Students say that they have received no communication from NSFAS on when these allowances are to be paid out, leaving them concerned about their futures and without a place to stay.
