Over 4,000 students remain in limbo as NSFAS investigation backlog continues

More than 4,000 prospective beneficiaries of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) are still waiting for funding decisions as a backlog in investigations and verifications continues, IOL reported.

Numbers and the verification hold-up

NSFAS told the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Yusuf Cassim, that academic data from institutions is still outstanding for 4,138 students whose cases are under GAP investigations a verification process used to confirm registration, academic eligibility, accommodation and enrolment details. The scheme has processed 2,361 GAP investigations, restoring funding to affected students, out of more than 10,000 cases.

Deputy Minister presses for speed

Cassim met with NSFAS Administrator Professor Hlengani Mathebula to raise concerns about lengthy investigation delays, outstanding appeals, allowance payments and uncertainty around registrations for the second semester.

“The Deputy Minister emphasised that he respected the GAP investigations and vetting processes conducted by NSFAS to verify student registration, enrolment, accommodation, and academic results, to eliminate potential fraud and to verify the academic eligibility of beneficiaries. However, he stressed that it is unacceptable for students to have to wait up to five months for their GAP investigations to be completed,”

The deputy minister requested a list of affected students per institution and directed the department’s university branch to assist NSFAS in obtaining outstanding academic information needed to finalise investigations.

Targeted commitments and outstanding concerns

NSFAS committed to finalising 1,515 Unisa GAP cases by Friday and to urgently address funding concerns affecting more than 400 Nelson Mandela University students enrolled in Extended Programmes. Cassim also raised concerns about funding for Unisa students who need to register for the second semester, which the department said begins next week.

NSFAS told the department it has not yet committed to funding arrangements for second-semester registrations, citing a funding deficit and ongoing work on a submission to the ministry. The department said the Deputy Minister will follow up to try to speed the process.

Allowance payments and customer service

Cassim questioned the timing of NSFAS allowance payments to institutions and called for improvements to the payment schedule for the R316 personal care allowance paid to Unisa students. He also visited a NSFAS call centre and raised concerns about slow responses to student queries.

“It’s important that we improve our response rate to student queries at all times. On my side, I will ensure that the DM’s Helpdesk works closely with NSFAS so we can collaborate to assist students more effectively,”

“My office is available to assist NSFAS in improving its services where it can, and I have advised the Administrator, Prof. Mathebula, to ensure he supports officials within NSFAS who are patriotic professionals wanting to make a positive contribution.”

The meeting prompted NSFAS to deploy teams to the Central University of Technology to assist students living in non-accredited accommodation who have experienced delays in receiving allowances. NSFAS also told the Deputy Minister that there are currently no outstanding allowance payments, including those for TVET college students.