By Johnathan Paoli
Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has praised the official launch of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme’s (NSFAS) online applications for 2025, saying it is a step in the right direction to address the persistent challenges within the post-school education and training (PSET) sector.
Nkabane, who was joined by departmental director-general Nkosinathi Sishi and NSFAS administrator Freeman Nomvalo, told reporters on Friday that several enhancements had been made to the application portal to ensure a seamless
application process for prospective applicants.
The minister expressed her confidence at the launch, saying it was evidence of a people’s government working for the people.
Nkabane said that the school student scheme remained a critical tool in assisting students in overcoming the challenges and legacies of the past.
“They are the motive forces that must be utilised to contribute to the transformation of our country, and this social transformation is instrumental in improving the material conditions of our people,” she said.
The minister announced that the window for online applications would close on 15 December, but urged students not to leave applying until the last minute.
Nkabane said that as of Friday afternoon, there had been over 170,000 applications, with most coming from KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Limpopo.
“We want our learners to tap into these opportunities in order to ensure inclusion in the economic drive and skills revolution,” she said.
Simultaneously, NSFAS hosted activations at schools across the country to assist learners and out of school youth in applying for funding.
The minister, joined by Nomvalo and Sishi, invited a group of students from local schools and accompanied one learner in her application to the student fund scheme.
The launch was initially scheduled to take place on Tuesday, but Nkabane explained that the postponement was due to allow time for a dry run of the online application system. This was to allow stakeholders, including learners, better understand the system and make inputs.
While acknowledging any anxiety caused by the delay, the minister expressed her confidence, saying that the various input meant that the process would be easier and more accessible to applicants.
Nkabane said the improvements formed part of an ongoing effort to address issues that had previously plagued applications, including system crashes and fund disbursement delays.
Nomvalo outlined the application process and said while the NSFAS bursary was available to applicants coming from households with a combined income of R350,000 and less, the scheme provided loans to applicants from homes with an
income between R350,000 and R600,000.
Nomvalo confirmed that the provision of incomplete and incorrect information would culminate in a rejection, but added that applicants would be given an opportunity to appeal.
He reminded aspiring applicants to apply to their respective institutions of higher learning as registration at a university or college is one of the main perquisites for a successful application.
Nomvalo highlighted the outreach programmes the scheme was intent on establishing throughout the country, especially in remote and rural areas to assist with the application process.
He announced the scheme’s establishment of a dashboard, which was expected to monitor applications and assist NSFAS in responding to challenges and issues on the ground.
He called on learners as well as out-of-school youth to visit the website, create a profile and start the application process.
Nomvalo said affidavits would not be accepted, and that originals were required.
Representatives of several political party youth formations attended the launch, including the African National Congress Youth League, the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party’s student wing and ActionSA.
The scheme has been at the centre of controversy due to inefficiencies, with many applicants facing communication breakdowns and challenges with payments.
However, the leadership of NSFAS have said that they remain optimistic about a smoother application process.
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