The National Student Financial Aid Scheme forms part of the Department of Higher Education and Training oversight visit at CUT Welkom Campus ahead of the 2025 academic year

Mr Wandisile Gajana and Mr Siviwe, NSFAS delegates also formed part of the Department of Higher Education and Training oversight visit.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) delegation participated in the Department’s oversight visit at CUT Welkom Campus on 31 January 2025 to clarify the backlogs encountered by higher education institutions during the critical application and enrolment period.
The student leaders listed several concerns, including ongoing issues regarding delays in the approval of funded students, challenges faced by students with landlords, frustration encountered by rejected underprivileged students, defunded students, and missing middle-category students.
In his response, Mr Wandisile Gajana, Data Analyst from NSFAS, underscored the crucial role of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in expediting loan disbursements. He stressed the need for institutions to submit their MoUs, thereby ensuring that all parties are well-informed, and the process is streamlined.
“We have received 1,2 million applications, and we must go through every application and verify all applicants due to irregularities encountered in the past, such as fraud and dishonesty by some of our applicants. NSFAS does not decide to reject students, but our students provide us with the wrong information. The system has changed. We now work closely with the Department of Home Affairs to verify all applicants, and we have discovered that some of the applicants have been dishonest in their applications, and the process has rejected them. This has caused unnecessary delays,” he said.
However, Mr Gajana mentioned that some students experienced non-funding because NSFAS did not fund some programmes. Students change institutions when they fail and re-apply for funding under new programmes and new universities. “We do not pay for students who change sectors, and we do not fund students’ second qualifications.”
He added that accommodation accreditation is important because students move from one accommodation to the next because they want a change from the accommodation allowance. “This is also another challenge that we face because when vacating that particular accommodation, they do not update us of their moves from the initial registered accommodation and end up homeless.”
He also highlighted that the scheme is paying for 10 months (February to November). “It is important to note that institutions should send claims on behalf of the students, SASSA beneficiaries are automatically approved, students need to pass 50% of their modules to keep the funding and the missing middle category students (R350-R600.000 household income) need to apply for the NSFAS student loan and not the bursary and the universities have to sign the MoU so that the disbursement of funds can be done.”
Prof. Pamela Dube, Vice-Chancellor and Principal (left), Dr Mantoa Molete, Departmental Manager (middle) and Dr Mimmy Gondwe, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training (right).
The Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, actively encouraged student leaders to provide NSFAS delegates with a list of students still struggling to register and those whose statuses were not approved. “This call to action empowers student leaders to be part of the solution, fostering a sense of collective responsibility.”
Dr Karabo Sebake, Dean of Students, Prof. David Ngidi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, and CUT Chief Financial Officer, Mr Mili Nemutshili.
The CFO, Mr Mili Nemutshili, confirmed that the university has sent the necessary documents to NSFAS offices. He said that some students have been approved, but funds have not yet been received from the scheme.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Pamela Dube said the CUT Management remains committed to working together with all stakeholders to achieve their shared goals of a successful academic year. “We are dedicated to making this year a positive and enriching experience for all our students and staff. As of 02 February 2025, the university has achieved an overall registration rate of over 84%. First-year registrations have exceeded our expectations at 102.39%!”
CUT Registrar: Dr Sally Dzingwa and Lejweleputswa District Executive Mayor: Cllr Veronica Ntakumbana.
Uploaded: 04 February 2025
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