TVET students say ‘war room’ won’t solve their issues

Some students at the Tshwane TVET College have rejected the Department of Higher Education and Training’s newly announced “war room” initiative, saying it will not bring meaningful change to long-standing issues in the sector.

The criticism comes after Deputy Minister, Buti Manamela, announced the formation of the war room ahead of the 2026 academic year. The initiative is intended to tackle persistent problems such as NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) delays, student accommodation shortages, and broader institutional inefficiencies.

But student leaders remain unconvinced.

Youth Command Coordinator at Tshwane South TVET College, Elvis Tshiwawa, says the department’s promises are repetitive and ineffective.

“I don’t agree with the minister’s statement. He’s just hyping the narrative—maybe even trying to impress his superiors because he was recently appointed. He’s going to do the same thing all the other ministers have done. Nothing will change,” said Tshiwawa.

He added that TVET students are treated as second-class compared to university students, who typically receive their funding on time.

“We have to fight every year just to get what’s due to us. As long as there is still a middleman between NSFAS and the colleges, there will be mistakes, delays, and suffering. Students will still cry,” he added.

Tshiwawa also accused the department of misleading students about SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) opportunities, claiming his institution has never seen a single internship advertisement related to SETA-funded programs. He says more than 5,000 graduates from as far back as 2020 are still struggling to find opportunities after completing their diplomas.

The newly formed war room will include representatives from NSFAS, universities, TVET and CET (Community Education and Training) colleges, student formations, and quality councils. It will hold weekly meetings to address emerging challenges.

According to Manamela, the war room is a proactive structure aimed at preventing disruptions and accelerating the resolution of issues affecting the post-school education and training sector.

“Through the war room, we will tackle outstanding issues head-on—from the timely payment of NSFAS allowances to the accreditation of student accommodation, finalising exam certificates, and resolving disputes that disrupt teaching and learning,” Manamela said.

He added that the war room would act as an early warning system to flag potential protests and institutional disruptions before they escalate.

NSFAS Reforms and Future Plans

The department says it is working on sustainable funding reforms to stabilise the financial aid scheme ahead of the 2026 academic year. This includes the re-prioritisation of R13.3 billion in existing funds to support students whose registrations have been blocked and those in need of assistance with second-year registration.

NSFAS also issued a circular today for accommodation providers who haven’t received payments in 2025, promising to resolve outstanding issues.

Acting NSFAS CEO, Waseem Carrim, said student accommodation would be streamlined under the new plan.

“When students arrive on campus, they must be placed in accommodation within four hours. We’re taking steps to ensure quality and to encourage stakeholder feedback, as this is a key policy issue,” Carrim said.

NSFAS is also partnering with SASSA and the Department of Home Affairs to verify student information and ensure that only qualifying students receive funding.

The department also announced that applications for 2026 will officially open on 16 September.

Demand vs. Capacity

Manamela also acknowledged that the financial aid system is under immense pressure as more students qualify for post-school education each year.

The department projects that in 2026, approximately 235,000 first-year students will enter universities, 170,000 will enroll at TVET colleges, and 120,000 will enter CET institutions.

“That is a large number, and we cannot absorb every qualifying learner. That’s why we urge learners to apply early and to explore multiple options,” said Manamela.

While the department maintains that the war room will improve coordination and service delivery, some students remain skeptical, calling for more action and less rhetoric.

At the Media Briefing today, Minister @ButiManamela announced that NSFAS 2026 applications officially open on 16 Sept at the University of Pretoria. Apply via myNSFAS, track online, and access support at regional centres. NSFAS supports ~1 million students annually.@myNSFAS pic.twitter.com/eko0R7JVBE

— HigherEducationZA (@HigherEduGovZA) September 15, 2025

Written by: Odirile Rabalao