News

With the 2025 academic year reaching its halfway mark, many students across South Africa are still facing funding uncertainty.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has confirmed that the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant will continue until 31 March 2026, extending support for unemployed South Africans amid ongoing economic challenges.

The Democratic Alliance Students’ Organisation (DASO) has urged the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to urgently investigate and blacklist accommodation providers accused of housing students in substandard and unsafe conditions near the Nkandla campus of Umfolozi TVET College.

The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) has initiated a nine-month review of South Africa’s social grant payment system to resolve ongoing payment disruptions affecting millions of vulnerable beneficiaries.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has announced an inflation-linked increase to the general fuel levy, set to take effect on 4 June 2025. This marks the first such increase in three years.

Millions of South Africans rely on the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant each month to meet their basic needs. Those who submitted R370 grant applications and are approved for May 2025 will receive their payments during the designated payout period.

Millions of unemployed South Africans will receive R370 this May as part of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, the only form of financial support available to adults aged 18 to 59 who receive no other government aid.

Frustrated students say they have been left stranded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) after months of unpaid allowances, forcing many to go without accommodation, food, and other essentials.

Government jobs offer competitive salaries and benefits. Sassa has provided an important update on available jobs.

Thousands of university students benefit from NSFAS funding. The allowance payment method for these students have been revealed.

Stakeholders were concerned that social grants may be impacted by the delivery of the third budget speech of the year. An important announcement was made regarding Sassa grant increases.

Millions of unemployed individuals in South Africa rely on the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to help cover basic needs. The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has confirmed the SRD grant payment dates for May 2025.

A petition urging the government to raise the Sassa pension to R5,000 has been reviewed by the Department of Social Development (DSD), which has outlined why the proposed increase cannot be implemented.

Thousands of young people living in South Africa applied to be teaching assistants during the fifth phase of the Basic Education Employment Initiate. Shortlisted candidates are now being contacted for interviews.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has extended operating hours on Saturdays in May to accommodate the increased demand for Smart ID cards from naturalised citizens and permanent residents from visa-exempt countries.

Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to launch an investigation into the National Skills Fund (NSF).

NSFAS is taking further steps to combat financial mismanagement. Its latest move may see the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) fully take over its Close-Out project, covering several academic years.

Thousands of unemployed youth applied for Phase 5 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), a programme aimed at creating over 200,000 temporary teaching assistant jobs at schools across South Africa.

NSFAS wants to ensure public funds are used effectively. This will see the scheme employ a new strategy.

NSFAS has faced significant criticism regarding its expensive Cape Town lease. Steps are being taken which would allow the scheme to move out of the premises.