By Levy Masiteng
The Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) has committed to paying outstanding bursary allowances owed to 104 students by Friday, while a further 108 beneficiaries will undergo an expedited documentation and verification process next week.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Yusuf Cassim announced the commitments on Wednesday following an engagement with TETA over delays in student bursary allowances and apprenticeship stipends.
Cassim met TETA officials at the authority’s offices in Randburg on Tuesday after his helpdesk received complaints from students and apprentices who had gone for months without receiving financial support.
Among those affected were students from the Durban University of Technology and apprentices linked to Delen Digital Solutions and Corporate Training.
The Department of Higher Education and Training said the delays had left many beneficiaries struggling to cover basic living expenses while continuing with their studies or training.
Although Cassim acknowledged TETA’s explanation of the operational challenges that contributed to the backlog, he stressed that students and apprentices should not bear the consequences of administrative inefficiencies.
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Following the meeting, TETA committed to finalising payments owed to 104 students by Friday, 7 August 2026.
A further 108 beneficiaries whose applications require outstanding documentation will undergo an expedited verification process, which is expected to be completed by Friday, 14 August.
Their payments will be processed once the required documentation has been received and the verification process has been completed.
TETA also committed to developing a new payment model that will make greater use of existing university payment systems in an effort to reduce administrative burdens and improve payment turnaround times.
According to the department, the revised system is expected to be introduced during the next academic year in partnership with higher education institutions.
The Deputy Minister’s helpdesk will also escalate TETA bursary-related complaints directly to the authority to allow for faster intervention and the resolution of student queries.
“Students shouldn’t have to choose between studying and worrying about allowances. Through my engagement with TETA, I have emphasised that these payments must be prioritised and completed urgently,” Cassim said.
He said he would continue to intervene when delays in financial support threatened students’ academic progress.
