Stipend delays leave young learners caught in NSF project crisis

For young people trying to build a future through technical training, a stipend is more than money landing in a bank account.

It can mean paying rent, getting to class, buying food and, for some learners, helping their families make it through the month.

That is why ongoing stipend delays affecting about 800 learners in a National Skills Fund (NSF)-funded aviation and artisan programme have come under scrutiny from Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training.

The learners are being trained in fields including aircraft mechanics, avionics, structural work, electrical work, fitting and turning, and welding.

But instead of focusing solely on their training, some have been left worrying about accommodation, transport and basic living costs.

Learners paying the price

Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie described the situation as deeply concerning, particularly because many of the learners come from difficult circumstances.

For some, their stipends also provide a small amount of support to their families.

This means a delayed payment can have consequences beyond the individual learner.

The committee questioned whether the NSF has been adequately monitoring the programme and keeping track of whether learners are actually receiving their money.

Concerns were also raised about conflicting information regarding payments. While there were claims that learners had been paid in June, correspondence from project partner Denel Technical reportedly indicated that some were still waiting.

For the committee, the contradiction raised questions about how closely the project is being managed on the ground.

A project already facing disruption

The programme was initially allocated about R354 million to train the 800 beneficiaries.

However, the project experienced further problems after Phila Jordan Capital (PJC), which was involved in delivering the training, relocated learners without formally notifying the NSF.

The first group was moved in January 2026, followed by another relocation in April, despite the NSF having instructed PJC not to move students without approval.

The committee said these breaches of the agreement disrupted the programme and affected learners’ welfare and safety.

Some learners also faced the prospect of being evicted from their accommodation.

The NSF later terminated its agreement with PJC and stepped in to rescue the project.

Questions over who was watching the project

For MPs, the issue goes beyond the actions of an external project partner.

The committee questioned whether the NSF itself had sufficient oversight of a programme involving hundreds of young people and a substantial public investment.

Letsie questioned how the project manager could not have accurate, up-to-date information about learner payments.

He also asked whether warning signs had been missed earlier in the year when PJC was already failing to meet its responsibilities.

The committee argued that repeated explanations involving third parties should not obscure questions about the NSF’s own management and oversight responsibilities.

What happens next?

The training programme was designed to give young people practical skills that could help them enter the mainstream economy and improve their circumstances.

That makes learner welfare an important part of the project’s success, not something separate from the training itself.

The committee has called for concerns around communication, payment monitoring and project oversight to be addressed.

It has also recommended a visit involving committee members, the Minister of Higher Education and Training and the NSF to meet the learners directly.

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