The Pretoria High Court has granted interim relief suspending the appointment of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Administrator Professor Hlengani Mathebula and immediately reinstating the institution's board.

The ruling temporarily reverses the May decision by Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela to dissolve the board and place NSFAS under administration owing to ongoing governance instability.

In May, following consultations and consideration of alternatives, Manamela announced the appointment of Mathebula as NSFAS Administrator.

Welcoming the court's decision, the NSFAS board announced that its urgent focus will centre on stabilising the financial aid institution, strengthening internal governance mechanisms and fulfilling the core mandate of providing financial assistance to eligible South African students.

While the interim relief allows the board to return to office under Part A of the application, the legal battle is not yet concluded.

Part B of the review application is still awaiting a final determination by the High Court. Because the matter remains sub judice, the board noted it will not comment further on the ongoing legal proceedings.

The board addressed the widespread public concern and controversy surrounding NSFAS operations.

The leadership pledged to investigate outstanding issues as a matter of priority, stating that appropriate legal and administrative action will be taken if any wrongdoing is identified.

Furthermore, the board reaffirmed its commitment to working constructively with Manamela and broader higher education stakeholders to navigate the sector's current challenges.