PRETORIA, Gauteng – Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Yusuf Cassim has formally intervened in the ongoing Unisa NSFAS funding delays, submitting a comprehensive dossier of student grievances directly to the University of South Africa’s management. This decisive action targets the widespread disruption of July’s Personal Care Allowance disbursements and the controversial discontinuation of monthly data stipends, challenges that have critically hindered more than 93,000 distance-learning students.
The complaints, funneled through the Deputy Minister’s dedicated Helpdesk, underscore mounting frustration among the student body. Because distance-learning scholars rely heavily on consistent connectivity and financial support, the delayed July payments and ongoing data restrictions have proven particularly detrimental to their academic progress and daily livelihoods.
During a high-level stakeholder meeting featuring Cassim, Unisa executives, student representatives, and NSFAS officials, it was revealed that NSFAS had successfully transferred the necessary funds to the university on 2 July 2026. However, a subsequent technical processing error at Unisa stalled the disbursement to affected students. University officials confirmed that this system glitch was rectified by Monday, 6 July 2026, and the processing of all outstanding payments is now actively underway.
Emphasizing the inadequacy of the current support structure, Deputy Minister Cassim argued that students should not face such administrative hurdles. “If we are being honest, R316 per month for a distance-learning student, which is less than the Social Relief Grant, is simply not enough, given the resources students need to succeed academically,” Cassim stated. He clarified that while the amount is insufficient, substantive changes must be routed through the annual NSFAS policy review framework.
Strategic Action Items and Institutional Commitments
The high-stakes engagement yielded several concrete commitments aimed at resolving immediate bottlenecks and improving inter-institutional coordination:
- Schedule Overhaul Request: Cassim will formally contact NSFAS Administrator Professor Hlengani Mathebula to demand a detailed briefing on institutional allowance payment timelines. Cassim highlighted a systemic flaw: NSFAS currently transfers funds only after the month has begun, leaving universities with an impractical window to process student payouts.
- On-Site Financial Reconciliation: NSFAS has pledged to dispatch a dedicated finance department team to Unisa next week. Their mandate is to reconcile all pending payments and untangle lingering financial discrepancies between the two entities.
- Direct Student Dialogue: Unisa management has committed to facilitating a direct engagement between Deputy Minister Cassim and the student body, ensuring leadership hears the scholars’ concerns firsthand.
Leveraging Policy Reviews for Distance Learning Reform
The Deputy Minister highlighted that the upcoming annual NSFAS policy review, coupled with the anticipated revision of the NSFAS Act, offers a critical window to rectify systemic inequities for distance learners. Priority areas earmarked for reform include:
- The current exclusion of Unisa students registered for fewer than 10 modules from allowance eligibility.
- The glaring inadequacy of the R316 monthly Personal Care Allowance.
- The lack of supplementary financial support beyond the basic Personal Care and one-time book allowances.
- A broader reevaluation of the funding model tailored specifically for distance education institutions.
Cassim noted that his direct engagement with the university has deepened his understanding of these challenges, which will strategically guide his contributions to the legislative and policy review processes.
Renewed Push for Monthly Data Allowances
Addressing the digital divide, Cassim strongly urged the Unisa Council to reverse its decision to eliminate monthly data allowances. He stressed that dependable, affordable internet access is a fundamental prerequisite for academic achievement in a remote learning environment. Although he acknowledged the Council’s ongoing negotiations with private telecommunications providers for discounted data, Cassim insisted that a sustainable, institutionalized monthly data allocation remains non-negotiable.
Helpdesk Escalations and Unresolved Discrepancies
Reaffirming the value of the Deputy Minister’s Helpdesk as a crucial “helping hand” for rapid, personalized grievance escalation, Cassim promised continued collaborative efforts to ensure no student is marginalized. “The concerns of our students are valid and must be addressed with urgency and empathy,” he affirmed.
Furthermore, Cassim raised specific Helpdesk reports indicating that certain students received partial payments totaling less than the mandated R316. Despite being presented with documented evidence during the meeting, Unisa management denied the systemic allegations. The university has, however, agreed to review any forwarded individual cases to assess them individually and provide targeted responses and resolutions.
