Nzimande to NSFAS: Use 'strict' measures to avoid non-payment of student allowances

JOHANNESBURG - Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande says the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) should be strict about deadlines for universities that submit students' information. 

This, he added, will prevent delays in the payment of students' allowances.

Nzimande was speaking during a media briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday, giving an update on the state of readiness for the 2024 academic year at tertiary institutions.

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In 2023, thousands of students were left stranded without allowances after some institutions failed to submit their required information to NSFAS on time.

As registration for the 2024 academic year is under way at universities, some NSFAS students are still waiting for their allowances.

Nzimande said delays in submitting student information on time by some institutions contributed greatly to the challenge.

He said NSFAS should enforce strict deadlines: "NSFAS needs to be more strict in 2024 on how it manages the registration adjustment process, and institutions ought to submit the information accurately upon first submission."

In 2023, close to 100,000 students from five universities did not receive their allowances as a result of these delays.