NSFAS dismisses viral R630,000 student payment claim

NSFAS dismisses viral R630,000 student payment claim

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has dismissed viral claims on social media that a student received a payment of more than R630,000, describing the allegation as false and misleading. In a statement, the scheme said preliminary investigations indicate that the image circulating online was manipulated and may have been generated using artificial intelligence (AI), with no connection to any legitimate NSFAS transaction. The incident has nonetheless reignited concerns […]

March 17, 2026 89 1

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NSFAS urges students to appeal unsuccessful applications

National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) CEO, Wassim Carrim, says students who do not meet academic progression requirements or financial eligibility criteria may lodge an appeal with the scheme. Carrim provided the update during a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday. He says appeals may be granted on grounds such as medical conditions, traumatic events, or other circumstances that may have affected a student’s ability to complete their academic qualification. […]

March 5, 2026 25

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Students demand urgent intervention as accommodation crisis deepens

Students across the country continue to face mounting financial pressure just weeks into the 2026 academic year, with concerns ranging from delayed allowances to ongoing accommodation shortages. This has left scores of students battling to afford basic necessities such as food, transport and essential learning materials, placing their academic progress and well-being at serious risk. Olwethu Buthelezi, a chemical engineering student at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), has called […]

February 23, 2026 126

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NSFAS, Gambling Board join forces to educate students on gambling risks

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and the National Gambling Board (NGB) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at protecting students at tertiary institutions from gambling-related harm and protect public funds allocated for education. The initiative comes amid a rapid growth in South Africa’s gambling industry. According to Statistics South Africa, gross gambling revenue increased by 25,7% to R59,3 billion in the 2024/25 financial year. In a joint statement […]

February 19, 2026 30

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NSFAS clears major backlog, documentation errors delay funding

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) says it has made significant progress in processing funding applications for the 2026 academic year, with tens of thousands of additional students approved. Acting CEO, Waseem Carrim, said the scheme had previously flagged a major backlog of outstanding documentation. “As we move to our 2026 application cycle, we had indicated that about 200,000 students had outstanding documents with the fund,” Carrim said. He […]

February 5, 2026 63

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Maluleke’s appointment as acting NSFAS chair sparks political backlash

Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, has come under fire for appointing Dr Mugwena Maluleke as the Acting Chairperson of the NSFAS Board. Maluleke, who currently serves as the General Secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU), replaces Karen Stander, who resigned citing racism, bullying, intimidation, and safety concerns. The Department says Dr Maluleke’s appointment aims to ensure stability as the Minister seeks a court review to […]

November 12, 2025 206 1