Higher Education and Nsfas vow action amid Durban student protests

Amid student marches in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), over delayed payments by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas), the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and Nsfas say they are actively working together to resolve ongoing funding challenges.

Since the beginning of the academic year, university students have faced numerous funding challenges, including application discrepancies, late registration confirmation and appeals, and budget constraints.

Students from different higher education institutions in KZN marched on Friday over non-payments.

Durban students march over Nsfas non-payment

The students started gathering at King Dinuzulu Park in Durban to demand urgent intervention from the scheme and the department.

“Nsfas must pay all historical debt that is left unpaid by Nsfas. Close the closeout project cases for students to get their qualifications,” read a sign by the South African Students Congress-affiliated students.

“DHET must clear historical debt now” and “Release the loan funding guidelines with immediate effect”, read the signs from EFF Student Command (EFFSC)-affiliated students.

ALSO READ: DUT denies claims of Nsfas registration portal closure

Due to errors made during the application process, some university students who applied during the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) application cycle have had issues with their registration status.

Late registration confirmation & appeals, and budget constraints

The DHET and Nsfas said the registration statuses of some students were only confirmed after the official deadline, causing delays in their access to funding support.

Due to a limited remaining budget, students whose appeals have been granted are also facing financial shortages. This is impacting their capacity to pay for registration and related costs.

ALSO READ: Nsfas slams ‘fake news’ about registration portal closure

In a joint statement on Friday, DHET and Nsfas said they are actively collaborating to address these challenges.

“Efforts include reviewing applications from students who applied during the TVET application cycle, providing funding for students whose registration was submitted late and exploring options to allocate additional resources to support students with approved appeals,” the institutions said.

Institutions must assist students – DHET and Nsfas

DHET and Nsfas also encourage higher education institutions to assist students in resolving outstanding issues promptly.

“We remain committed to ensuring that all eligible students have access to the funding necessary to continue their studies without undue disruption,” the DHET and Nsfas said.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of students and stakeholders as we work diligently to resolve these issues swiftly.”

ALSO READ: Nsfas recovers over R850 million following SIU probe