Students give govt NSFAS payment ultimatum

Frustrated students have given the Higher Education Department until Monday to tackle payment irregularities at NSFAS.

The young people marched to the department’s head office in Pretoria yesterday, demanding an end to the eZaga payment system that they’ve blamed for their financial woes.

Delayed payments and months of unpaid allowances are among the students’ concerns.

YNews spoke with 22-year-old TUT student and NSFAS beneficiary, Lothiwe Ntuli, who says delayed payments have left her unable to graduate.

The journalism student owes the institution roughly R13 000.

Now, unemployed and without her qualification certificate, Ntuli says she’s not sure how she’ll come up with the money to pay the institution.

The young people say their futures have been put on the line, due to corruption and maladministration at NSFAS.

They’ve called on universities to take back control of distributing student allowances amid ongoing question marks about when students will be paid.

They’re also demanding urgent structural reforms at NSFAS, with policies that prioritise the needs of students.

The students have threatened to take their fight to the doorstep of the Union Buildings, should their demands not be met by Monday.

However, it’s unclear how much the ANC-aligned SASCO student union will achieve, as it has to work to satisfy the governing party, while also attempting to meet the needs of students. Written by Naomi Kobbie