NSFAS: UniLim SRC effects acceleration efforts

POLOKWANE – The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is capturing a new file for University of Limpopo’s (UniLim) students bursary information after an incorrect one was kept, delaying the disbursement of allowances to roughly 2 500 in recent months.

The university, as confirmed by spokesperson Johannes Selepe, extended the food drive programme to accommodate the affected students for the duration of second semester examinations.

Some UniLim’s Student Representative Council (SRC) members went to the scheme’s head offices in Cape Town last week, wanting to see the documents and effect accelerated efforts to fill in missing details which had to be transferred to eZaga – a capital disbursement Financial Services Provider (FSP) previously contracted by NSFAS, for students before the end of the year.

eZaga was embroiled in a conflict of interest matter recently and the contract was not renewed for the new year. They have until the end of this month to complete all outstanding duties tied with NSFAS monies.

FSP officials visited the university last Wednesday and Friday to correct systematic issues relating to digital money applications that are used by students to perform transactions. According to SRC president Khutso Mamabolo, the digital application would decline transactions incorrectly citing insufficient funds, “causing panic among students, some of whom rely solely on the grant”.

Among other matters, the university’s student council also demanded for accountability from NSFAS officials with regards to the R75 that were deducted from students’ allowances over a period of more than five months in a lump sum.