PRETORIA, Gauteng — Students at the University of South Africa (UNISA) have staged protests outside the institution’s Sunnyside Campus, demanding the immediate payment of their delayed June 2026 NSFAS allowances. The ongoing financial hold-ups have sparked widespread frustration among learners who say the delays are severely disrupting their studies and daily lives.
According to protesting students, the lack of monthly allowances has left many unable to afford food, basic necessities, and the mobile data required for online learning. Learners explained that without their allowances, their data is cut off, making it impossible to attend virtual classes, conduct research, or submit assignments before strict deadlines.
“If we don’t submit assignments, we fail, and once we fail, we no longer qualify for NSFAS,” one student explained, highlighting the compounding consequences of the delays. They emphasized that the issue extends beyond personal hardship, threatening the entire academic process and their future funding eligibility.
The financial strain is further exacerbated by a stark disparity in funding structures. Students pointed out that while learners at many contact universities receive a monthly allowance of R1,700, UNISA students receive only R316. From this limited amount, distance learning students are expected to purchase their own mobile data and personal toiletries. Furthermore, they noted that data allocations are only provided during exam periods, despite continuous online assessments requiring consistent internet access. Coming from disadvantaged, unemployed families, these students also do not qualify for the SASSA SRD grant because they are already registered NSFAS beneficiaries.
In response to the growing unrest, a UNISA spokesperson stated that the university understands the students’ concerns and has already begun processing the outstanding allowance payments. The spokesperson highlighted the massive scale of the institution’s operations, noting that UNISA offers higher education to over 380,000 students. Of that number, 177,000 rely on NSFAS, with 93,000 of those students being eligible for the delayed allowances.
The UNISA spokesperson clarified that the batch processing for payments commenced on Friday, and all eligible students have since received their remittance advice. They attributed the delays to broader systemic challenges within the national funding framework rather than any administrative failure by the university, adding that the institution has managed the process “exceptionally well” on its end.
The university has urged students to continue monitoring their bank accounts as the funds are being actively disbursed. Meanwhile, the protesting students maintain their call for more reliable communication and timely payments to prevent any further disruption to their academic year.
