The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has announced that it has disbursed a total of R1.6 billion for student accommodation. This significant payment comes after addressing several challenges and delays that had jeopardised students' housing arrangements.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving students enrolled in approved courses at universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. These funds cover tuition and registration fees, along with various allowances for food, accommodation, and learning materials.
Although the disbursement of R1.6 billion is a positive step, many students still face difficulties due to inadequate living conditions and unfavourable contracts with landlords. Of the total amount, R311 million was allocated to TVET college accommodation providers, and R1.297 billion was distributed to university accommodation providers.
NSFAS acknowledges that several factors contributed to the delayed payments, including:
Placement Of Non-Eligible Students
Some accommodation providers inadvertently placed students who were not eligible for NSFAS funding. NSFAS is verifying these cases and will instruct providers to treat non-eligible students as self-funded.
Unsigned Lease Agreements
Delays in signing lease agreements by both students and accommodation providers hampered the timely submission of invoices. NSFAS is encouraging both parties to promptly sign these agreements.
Late Submission Of Registration Data
Institutions that submitted registration data late caused significant payment delays. NSFAS is urging institutions to submit this data on time.
Late Funding Decisions
NSFAS plans to finalise funding decisions earlier in the year to prevent future delays.
Incorrect Invoicing
Misunderstandings between landlords and NSFAS regarding payment cycles led to incorrect invoicing. NSFAS is conducting roadshows to educate landlords about NSFAS payment procedures.
NSFAS is actively working to address these issues and ensure that students receive timely and adequate accommodation support.
