Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Yusuf Cassim has pledged decisive action to address the persistent and deeply damaging failures at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), which have left thousands of students across South Africa without meals, accommodation, and the vital funding codes needed to sustain their studies.
Speaking during an oversight visit to institutions in the Eastern Cape, Cassim acknowledged the severity of the crisis, describing the situation as “unacceptable and urgent.” Students have reported going hungry, being evicted from residences, and facing the prospect of deregistration because NSFAS has failed to disburse allowances or issue the confirmation codes that verify their funding status. “No student should have to choose between a meal and a textbook,” Cassim said. “The system is failing them, and we have a duty to fix it.”
The Deputy Minister outlined a series of immediate interventions, including the fast-tracking of outstanding payments, the deployment of additional administrative capacity to resolve backlogs, and the strengthening of communication channels between NSFAS and institutions. He also indicated that the scheme’s leadership would be held accountable for performance failures, with consequences for those who fail to deliver.
Cassim’s visit comes amid mounting pressure on the government to address the systemic dysfunction at NSFAS, which has faced years of criticism over maladministration, financial mismanagement, and an inability to serve the millions of students who depend on its support. The scheme’s ballooning debt, now exceeding R49 billion, has further strained its capacity to meet current obligations.
Student organisations have welcomed Cassim’s promises but remain cautiously sceptical, noting that previous commitments have failed to translate into tangible improvements. “We have heard these words before,” one student leader said. “What we need now is action—food on the table, a roof over our heads, and the assurance that our funding will not be cut off.”
As the Deputy Minister concludes his visit, the pressure is on to deliver. For the students caught in the gap between policy promises and on-the-ground reality, the stakes could not be higher.
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