On a day meant to celebrate national unity and reflection, Minister of Higher Education and Training, Nobuhle Nkabane, used the public holiday to address yet another NSFAS payment delay—this time affecting thousands of TVET College students. The Minister acknowledged that while education is a fundamental right, recent failures in the administration of student funding have created unnecessary hardship for those who rely on allowances to survive.
April Allowance Payments Delayed Again
Student allowances that were expected to be paid on Friday, 25 April 2025, were not processed on time, sparking confusion and frustration among TVET College students. Ironically, just hours earlier, NSFAS had released a statement calling online reports of delays “fake news.” However, the warnings proved to be partially correct.
According to the Minister’s statement:
“Due to a system glitch related to the size of the batch files, these payments were processed on Saturday, April 26th and have been reflected in all student accounts as of April 27th.”
Apologies, Promises, and an Ongoing Pattern
The Minister issued a public apology, acknowledging the inconvenience and reaffirming the department’s responsibility:
“We apologise once again for not delivering on our commitments. We recognise that these delays disrupt student lives, especially for those entirely dependent on their allowances.”
NSFAS promised corrective action moving forward:
“NSFAS is actively collaborating with its financial services institution to resolve this issue to prevent any recurrence in the upcoming months.”
TVET Students Hit Harder
These delays are especially painful for TVET students, who receive smaller monthly allowances compared to university students. In addition to the most recent delay:
- There have been cases where housing allowances were mistakenly paid directly to students, instead of to accommodation providers.
- Appeals submitted earlier this year remain unresolved, leaving many students in financial limbo.
- There are unsettled balances from 2024, owed by both students and housing providers, compounding the funding backlog.
Growing Frustration Among Students
While the Minister’s public acknowledgment is a step forward, many students are growing increasingly disillusioned. Delays, technical issues, and inconsistent communication continue to erode trust in NSFAS’s ability to deliver timely and transparent financial support.
The apology may offer a temporary reprieve, but students and stakeholders alike are now calling for systemic reform and accountability to prevent another funding fiasco in the months ahead.