By Johnathan Paoli
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has confirmed that accommodation payments for eligible students will go ahead next week, with the next payment cycle scheduled for next week Thursday.
However, the final deadline for submissions is just hours away, midday on Wednesday, prompting an urgent call to action for institutions, universities and colleges to supply their confirmation details.
NSFAS reminded stakeholders that all necessary documents and student lists must be submitted before the cut-off time in order to ensure smooth processing of payments.
The scheme emphasised the importance of adhering to the timeline, warning that any delays in submissions could impact students’ housing stability and create administrative backlogs.
“This cooperation is crucial to ensuring that students, who are often in vulnerable situations, maintain stable living conditions while pursuing their studies. These efforts are important to creating a safe and supportive learning environment for students,” the scheme said.
The upcoming payments are part of the scheme’s ongoing efforts to support thousands of students housed in NSFAS-accredited but privately provided accommodation.
With many students depending on these disbursements to avoid eviction or disruption to their living arrangements, the scheme has urged all involved parties to act promptly.
“As we prepare for this payment cycle, we request that all solution partners submit a comprehensive list of students who have applied for NSFAS-accredited accommodation,” it said in a statement.
“These lists must be verified by the respective institutions to confirm each student’s eligibility.”
NSFAS also offered reassurance to landlords and institutions that students not captured in the partner-submitted lists would still be accommodated in the payment cycle, as long as they appeared in the registration templates provided by institutions.
This safeguard is intended to prevent students from being unfairly penalised due to technical or administrative issues.
To prevent any students from falling through the cracks, universities and TVET colleges are being asked to identify and report students living in NSFAS-accredited housing who may not be reflected on the official lists.
The scheme has committed to working closely with its solution partners to resolve any discrepancies.
It also pleaded with landlords and accommodation providers not to evict students over payment delays.
The announcement comes at a time when concerns have been raised by student unions and advocacy groups regarding late payments and communication challenges between stakeholders.
In response, NSFAS has emphasised its ongoing commitment to working with universities, colleges, landlords and student leaders to find long-term solutions to issues in the private student accommodation sector.
NSFAS expressed gratitude to all who have supported students thus far, acknowledging the vital role they play in keeping learners focused on their academic goals.
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