Apparent maladministration at the hands of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has left students in a bind.

Several have either been defunded or are waiting to receive their payments.

Yanga Nakumba, a third-year student at Tshwane University of Technology, told News24 he has been defunded since July, without warning, and added that no reasons were provided.

The situation has made it difficult for him to focus on his studies.

"I was referred to NSFAS offices in Cape Town. I tried to call them, but I was on a waiting list until I ran out of patience because I didn't have much airtime," he added.

His story is a microcosm of the national situation.

Students at Stellenbosch University, North-West University, and Walter Sisulu University also raised concerns about payment delays earlier this month.

How many of us are in this situation?

The funding scheme was meant to be a lifeline for underprivileged students. 

In 2023, an R47.6-billion budget was set aside to accommodate 1.1-million students. 

However, irregular expenditure figures, constant leadership changes, and gaping holes in financial controls have rocked the scheme recently.

"When you call the NSFAS office, they say you are ticket number 1 000, which makes one wonder how many of us are in this situation," Omphile Moleko, a third-year human resources student, told News24.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande said the scheme was working hard to improve systems. 

"I have directed NSFAS to improve its call centre; there are just still too many complaints about the NSFAS call centre. The NSFAS call centre can't afford to falter."

He said the scheme was determined to finalise all payments and review pending appeals. 

"NSFAS truly represents one of the most progressive efforts by the government to systematically break the legacies of generational poverty and social inequality."

Some are left behind

Although the scheme has funded thousands of students since its inception in 1991, administrative errors erode inroads made.

Keamogetswe Masike told News24, "In matric, I aspired to go to university because my understanding was that it would change my life."

However, the NSFAS hurdles make the final-year student anxious about his future.  

City Press previously reported that NSFAS board chairperson Ernest Khosa said administrative loopholes would be fixed.

He said they had appointed a chief operating officer, a communications specialist and one of the top 10 auditors in the country.