Freeman Nomvalo, Administrator of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), said they are fully committed to addressing the allowance payment problems at King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) TVET College. This follows reports of student evictions due to NSFAS's failure to disburse allowances on time.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to eligible learners enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges. These funds cover tuition, registration fees, and various allowances for living expenses, learning materials, and accommodation.
The accommodation allowance is crucial for students to avoid long commutes to campus and also ensures students who can study at an institution even if they live in geographical locations that would make it impossible to travel to campus. However, delays exceeding six months in paying these allowances have led to evictions.
Nomvalo met with key stakeholders at the Ngcobo KSD campus after news reports highlighted the severe challenges faced by KSD TVET College students, particularly the non-payment of student allowances and accommodation providers.
Upon receiving social media reports regarding the plight of students at the KSD TVET College, the NSFAS Administrator committed to swiftly resolving the challenges experienced by the students, particularly given the seriousness of the matters confronting the students relating to payment of allowances and student accommodation.
Upon receiving reports via social media about the students' plight, Nomvalo expressed his commitment to resolving the payment issues swiftly. A list of affected students was provided to NSFAS for processing, with a resolution that payments for the Ngcobo campus would commence on 25 June 2024.
The list of all the affected students was handed over to NSFAS for processing and the meeting resolved that the Ngcobo campus student allowances will be paid from the 25th June 2024.
To address immediate concerns, Nomvalo urged landlords not to evict students due to outstanding payments and assured them that NSFAS is actively clearing all legitimate pending payments. Landlords who have not yet submitted their claims were encouraged to do so via the dedicated email, [email protected].
In addition to resolving current issues, NSFAS announced the launch of provincial accommodation roadshows starting in July. These roadshows aim to understand the unique dynamics of various institutions and disseminate NSFAS accommodation guidelines and processes to ensure a smooth application process for 2025.
NSFAS believes this initiative will not only address immediate accommodation challenges but also provide comprehensive support to institutions and landlords, enhancing the overall management of student allowances and accommodation logistics.
