VANDERBIJLPARK – The Vaal University of Technology’s (VUT) Student Representative Council (SRC) undertook a strategic working visit to Cape Town from December 1 to 5.
The programme included benchmarking sessions at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and Stellenbosch University, a formal engagement at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) headquarters, and a series of governance strengthening activities.
The visit aimed to enhance the SRC’s advocacy capacity, deepen their understanding of national funding systems, and broaden their exposure to institutional best practice.
The NSFAS engagement session was chaired by Dr Gugulethu Xaba, VUT Executive Director for Student Support Services, ensuring a structured and solution-oriented discussion aligned with institutional priorities.
The agenda, presented by Deputy President Kholofelo Ndaba and SRC President Nkosinathi Nkosi, tabled key matters affecting VUT students.
These included TVET-related concerns, challenges in the registration cycle, outstanding 2024 payments, NSFAS loan processes, accommodation delays, the unresolved 2020 close-out, difficulties with transport allowance facilitation, delays in appeals, and a significant rise in NSFAS exceptions. The SRC called for detailed clarity on how each matter would be resolved and how processes could be streamlined going forward.
NSFAS representatives, Mthetheleli Ndaba (Accounts Administrator) and Thilivhali Mukondeleli (University Support Senior Manager), acknowledged that national administrative backlogs had contributed to delays across institutions.
