The University of South Africa (Unisa) has confirmed that it will soon disburse National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances to students, addressing concerns that it was the only university not doing so in the country.
NSFAS revealed that 25 out of the country’s 26 universities have already paid allowances to their students. This follows an agreement where institutions were tasked with distributing February NSFAS allowances. Now, NSFAS has confirmed the commencement of the allowance disbursement process for all eligible students.
Unisa has announced that all allowances will be distributed to students starting from March 19, 2024. This means students will have to wait for at least another week before receiving their NSFAS allowances.
The disbursement will cover both returning and new students, including learning materials and incidental allowances for those who qualify.
Allowances for both returning students and new students, including learning material and incidental allowances for qualifying students, will be disbursed from Tuesday 19 March 2024.
Unisa has urged students to ensure their bank details are correctly captured to avoid payment delays. Eligible students should register their banking details through the provided link on myUnisa. The link would have been sent to their myLife email accounts.
Qualifying students are reminded to capture their banking details correctly on the link provided on myUnisa for their payments to be made timeously. Qualifying students would have received the link via their myLife email account.
NSFAS has confirmed that allowances will be distributed through direct payment system in 2024.
Students are required to register with the direct payment partners assigned to their respective institutions in the previous year, as these partners will be utilised for the 2024 academic year.
However, NSFAS requested universities to pay allowances for both February and March due to challenges faced at the beginning of the 2024 academic year. Universities have been asked to allow direct payment service providers to onboard students while continuing with payments.
Direct payments for the 2024 academic year will begin in April, with universities administering allowances for only February and March, as the third allowances will be made through the direct payment platform. No exceptions or deviations will be permitted.
Unisa Distances Itself From Letter Circulating On Social Media
In the wake of reports that Unisa allowance payments will be slightly delayed, the university has distanced itself from a post circulating on social media platforms purporting to be from the intuition.
The fake letter indicates that Unisa used NSFAS allowances to print study materials and will therefore be unable to distribute allowances to deserving students until the end of April 2024. The letter also insinuates that the institution is not in a stable financial position.
Unisa denies any association with the letter, labelling its contents as false and advising students to be cautious of such unsigned communications.
Unisa distances itself from this letter and its contents; and confirms that it has not issued any communication on any platform recently relating to the payment of NSFAS allowances.
They clarify that official messages are distributed through recognized channels and platforms. The university considers the letter an act of fraud and is pursuing legal action against the misuse of a staff member's identity.
The letter in question is bogus and its contents farcical and completely false. Unisa students are therefore advised to view this letter, and any other unsigned communication purporting to be from the university, with caution and suspicion.
Additionally, Unisa reassures its financial stability and emphasises the proper allocation of NSFAS allowances for students' needs. They reaffirm NSFAS's statement regarding the finalisation of allowance disbursement, slated for 19 March 2024, urging students to ensure accurate banking details for timely payments.
How Unisa NSFAS Allowances Work
NSFAS defines Distance Learning as a mode of provision primarily based on teaching and learning strategies aimed at overcoming spatial and/or transactional distance between educators and students.
This method eliminates the need for students to attend frequent and lengthy classes to access the curriculum. Instead, it utilises various media, tutorial support, peer group discussions, and practical sessions.
NSFAS explains that students at institutions like Unisa are categorised as distance learning students, meaning they study at a non-contact university. According to NSFAS' funding policy, allowances for students in distance education programs are determined based on the number of courses registered, up to a maximum of R5,460.
Students studying an equivalent full-time course load qualify for a personal care allowance of R3,045 per academic year, provided they register for a minimum of 120-course credits. Students studying less than 60-course credits toward their qualification are eligible for learning materials allowances only.
