Nzimande firm on NSFAS amidst calls for overhaul

In a press briefing held on Tuesday, Higher Education Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, staunchly rejected demands from the Student Forum 4 Service Delivery (SF4SD) to abolish the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

The student-led group had marched to the ministry, advocating for direct fund allocation to universities instead.

Despite mounting concerns surrounding NSFAS, including leadership instability and controversial contracts with fintech companies, Minister Nzimande stood firm on retaining the student funding platform. SF4SD’s Nhongo Solo argued that NSFAS introduced unnecessary bureaucracy, claiming it adversely affects students.

“NSFAS is chowing more from our students,” Solo asserted.

Minister Nzimande, however, defended NSFAS, stating, “We do not intend to go back to giving money to institutions to then decide who gets funding, none whatsoever.”

He referenced a past investigation revealing corruption in the direct funding approach, leading to the adoption of the current student-centric model.

The minister acknowledged challenges in the application process and assured ongoing efforts to simplify it.

Emphasizing the importance of honesty, Nzimande warned against fraudulent claims, stating, “If you rob NSFAS, we’re going to come for you.”

Funding applications for the 2024 academic year opened on the same day as the briefing and will conclude at the end of January next year.

Nzimande encouraged students who were unsuccessful in securing funding this year to reapply.

Notably, the application process has been streamlined, with supporting documents not required initially.

Instead, third-party entities such as SASSA, SARS, and the Home Affairs department will contribute information during the verification process.

As the debate on the effectiveness of NSFAS continues, Minister Nzimande remains resolute in preserving the current student-focused funding model despite calls for a significant overhaul.