DA left unsatisfied after NSFAS engagement

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The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it is not satisfied with the answers it received from the senior management of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). This follows its oversight visit to the Scheme’s offices in Cape Town to inspect its preparedness for the distribution of grants to hundreds of thousands of students for the 2024 academic year.

The DA’s delegation was on a fact-finding mission on how NSFAS is resolving challenges facing students’ financial assistance as the 2024 academic year is set to start.

“We found out that there were some glitches where students couldn’t get online to register or create their profile and how in general is the applications process going because we know it only ends at the end of this month,” says DA MP Chantal King.

NSFAS senior management faced tough questions. They ranged from student accommodation, appeals by those who have been declined funding, outstanding payments as well as the plans to deal with shortfall which is estimated at R1.1 billion.

“NSFAS still doesn’t have the capacity to roll our distribution and catering for its current cohort of beneficiaries, let alone the next batch, they are not ready, their potters are still inaccessible. Students are still unable to find out what their statuses are. NSFAS is unable to tell us what their infrastructure is going to look like,” says another DA MP Karabo Khakhau.

The Scheme’s management acknowledged that, its answers might have fallen short.

“It was short notice, we did not receive the questions, we did not prepare for the questions and some of the questions may have been responded to in a way that is not complete,” says NSFAS acting CEO Masile Ramorwesi.

The party is calling on the Higher Education Committee to intervene and summon NSFAS to Parliament to account on its preparedness for this academic year.

Video: DA conducts oversight visit at NSFAS office: Lulama Matya updates