By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has requested higher education institutions to assume the responsibility of disbursing student allowances for February and March after problems with its payment methods left many students stranded.
In a media briefing on Monday, NSFAS acting chairperson Lourens van Staden said the scheme had notified institutions of this decision and asked that they submit registration data to make the payments.
Van Staden said the scheme made two upfront payments to all institutions — one that was disbursed on 31 January and another on 29 February 2024.
The decision by NSFAS comes after students complained that their allowances have not yet been paid.
To date, about 29 institutions have submitted their registration data, which according to the acting chairperson would enable them to be paid this Friday, with the remaining institutions urged to submit their data to enable the aid scheme to make “catch-up” payments.
The first upfront payment to the tune of R2.8 billion will cover student book allowances, calculated at half of the 2023 academic year cost, and one month’s accommodation.
The second upfront payment effected by March 1 was to the tune of R2 107 551 411.20 to cover book allowances, accommodation allowances, transport, food and personal care.
A further R580 150 950.00 was paid to TVET colleges as upfront tuition for January.
Van Staden said an additional R1bn was earmarked for three months’ worth of allowances to be paid based on registration for the January to March period, to enable institutions to register all NSFAS-approved students for the current academic year.
For medical students in particular the aid scheme said provision had been made for two months worth of student allowances, especially for those whose academic year commences in January.
According to the acting chairperson, NSFAS had requested the institutions to make the allowance payments due to the challenges experienced at the beginning of the academic year which led to delays in receiving registration data from the institutions.
Meanwhile Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Professor Blade Nzimande has condemned the killing of a University of Johannesburg (UJ) student in Braamfontein, last week Thursday.
The student was killed in a crossfire while travelling from the university to their residence in the Johannesburg central business district (CBD).
Nzimande has also raised his concern about the well-being of another student, who was also shot in the same incident, and remains in a critical condition in hospital.
The Minister sent his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased student and wished the injured student a speedy recovery.