NSFAS to reprioritise funds to support students with blocked registrations

JOHANNESBURG - The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS ) will be reprioritising the R13 billion currently in its coffers to support students with blocked registrations.

Higher Education Buti Manamela made the announcement in Pretoria on Monday.

He was providing an update on the state of readiness of the 2026 academic year, as well as NSFAS applications.

Manamela said that 34,000 students with blocked registration and 15,000 second-semester students would be prioritised for funding.

In August, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme announced that it had miscalculated the total in its coffers by R10 billion, leaving qualifying students unregistered.

It has since been able to resolve this issue by rearranging funds ahead of the opening of applications for the 2026 academic year.

Minister Manamela said: "Many of these are UNISA students. NSFAS will issue a circular today to open the registration. Student accommodation providers who were impacted by the above will also be in a position to now receive payment."

Manamela warnedthat the scheme was still in a financial predicament because of the number of students who qualify to be funded.

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