The lack of financial means resulted in individuals who come from poor and working class backgrounds not being able to pursue their studies. This collective struggle then led to the #feesmustfall campaign being established.
This was followed by an announcement by former South African President, Jacob Zuma, announcing in December 2017 that there will be financial assistance for deserving students, through budget allocations from the National Treasury in February 2018.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Bursary Scheme was introduced to cater to the poor and working class students at public universities, providing fully-subsidised funding for them.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) was then given the responsibility to provide the DHET bursary to qualifying students.
Here are the qualifying criteria:
- Only South African citizens are eligible for this bursary scheme
- The student must be registered or intending to register at any public university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College in South Africa
- The student ought to meet the financial qualification criteria for funding, such as a combined gross family income of up to R350 000 per annum for first time applicants, on the other hand, returning university students who entered their studies prior to 2018 qualifying according to the previous threshold of R122 000 family income per annum.
- South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) recipient automatically meets the financial qualification criteria
- A student can only be funded for one qualification at one institution at any one time.
However, there are a few exceptions where a second undergraduate qualification would be supported, such as those students who have obtained a Higher Certificate and go on to a Diploma or Degree.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has shared that students only receive funding once they have met all the criteria and signed a Nsfas Bursary Agreement (NBA).
By the students signing the NBA, this then indicates that they accept the obligations and responsibilities of the Bursary programme.
