The original statement first appeared here on SAFTU
–The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) state they are deeply troubled by the ongoing mismanagement of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), which continues to disrupt students’ lives. Despite efforts to address these issues, including the dissolution of the NSFAS board by the Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande in April, problems persist, indicating a deep-rooted incompetence within NSFAS.
NSFAS’ own recent comments highlight this incompetence, admitting that payment delays to landlords are due to late processing by NSFAS. Such delays have serious negative consequences, with students at Ehlanzeni TVET College in Mpumalanga being evicted from their residences due to five months of unpaid rent. This problem is widespread, affecting students at multiple institutions, including Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Central University of Technology (CUT), and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
The new NSFAS direct payment system, intended to streamline grant disbursements, is failing. Students are still facing late payments, resulting in evictions and inability to buy necessities like groceries. This is particularly harmful during the exam period, as students struggle to concentrate and perform academically due to hunger and lack of stable housing.
SAFTU in their demands immediate action to address these issues, stressing that the responsible individuals must be replaced to prevent further suffering. NSFAS supports over 760,000 students, making its proper functioning crucial. SAFTU calls for an effective solution to ensure timely and reliable financial support for students, emphasizing that no excuses will be accepted if payments are not resolved by June 25, 2024.
