PRETORIA, Gauteng — Ongoing NSFAS problems have prompted urgent intervention from Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Yusuf Cassim, who recently addressed critical delays in personal care and data allowances affecting University of South Africa (Unisa) students.
In a bid to resolve the mounting frustrations, Cassim formally handed over a dossier of written student complaints and inquiries to the management of Unisa. The issues primarily center on late payments for the NSFAS Personal Care Allowance and the recent scaling back of data allowances, which are vital for distance-learning students.
Allowance Delays and System Glitches
During the engagement, Cassim detailed the primary grievances brought forward by the students. Many rely on the personal care allowance, which currently amounts to a mere R316 per month—a sum notably lower than the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant provided by the Department of Social Development. Receiving these funds well into the third week of the month has caused significant financial strain.
According to Cassim, the delays are largely tied to the funding transfer schedule. The tranche of funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was only paid over to Unisa on July 2. Because the NSFAS payment schedule typically releases tranches about a week after the start of the month, institutions are immediately placed under pressure. Furthermore, the July 2 transfer occurred just before a weekend, and subsequent glitches within the university’s internal systems caused further disbursement delays to the legitimate student beneficiaries.
To address these systemic bottlenecks, Cassim has written to the NSFAS administrator to schedule a meeting. The goal is to review the payment schedule and ensure it is geared toward timely disbursements. This follows the Minister of Higher Education’s decision to place NSFAS under administration a few months ago, a process currently under parliamentary scrutiny.
The Data Allowance Crisis
Beyond cash allowances, the discontinuation of monthly data allowances has severely impacted Unisa’s distance-learning cohort. Cassim explained that the burden of providing data to NSFAS beneficiaries had previously fallen on Unisa, drawn directly from the institution’s own budget.
Providing this digital resource cost the university over R800 million per annum. During its previous budget process, the Unisa Council decided it could no longer sustain the expense, citing opportunity costs to its other core business priorities. Cassim has formally requested that the institution reconsider this decision, though he acknowledged that any reversal would require the Unisa Council to adjust its budgetary processes.
The Deputy Minister’s Help Desk
A significant portion of the complaints were routed through the Deputy Minister’s help desk, an initiative designed to ensure a responsive government for frustrated students across the post-school education and training sector.
The help desk can be reached by students at DMSES@dhe.gov.za. The initiative was originally founded by Cassim’s predecessor, Dr. Mimi Kway, and has recently undergone a digitization process in collaboration with MIC Sitta. Cassim noted that dedicated staff members work around the clock to ensure students receive timely responses, and he plans to meet with MIC Sitta imminently to finalize the digitization efforts.
Next Steps for the Sector
Looking ahead, Cassim outlined several action steps to immerse himself in the sector’s challenges. He will be holding a follow-up meeting directly with Unisa students to listen to their grievances intimately.
These engagements will directly inform his inputs into critical upcoming policy processes, including the annual NSFAS allowance review and the imminent parliamentary review of the NSFAS Act. Through these legislative and administrative reviews, the Department of Higher Education and Training aims to implement long-term solutions to the persistent NSFAS problems affecting students nationwide.
