Deputy Higher Education Minister Yusuf Cassim has taken student funding concerns directly to the leadership of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), the department said in a statement on Monday.
Cassim met NSFAS acting chief executive Laurence Aadnesgaard on Friday 6 November, the statement said.
What has been paid
According to the department, a Funza Lushaka batch of R37,511,300 was paid on 6 November. A further R5,144,150 was paid to the University of Venda (Univen) on the same day.
At the University of South Africa (Unisa), 2,413 of 2,955 Funza Lushaka students, or 81.7%, have received their allowances, the department said. It added that 343 students have outstanding documents and seven have not given banking details.
Accommodation and allowances
The department said an accommodation provider accredited by WestCol was paid on 5 November, which lifted a threat of eviction for students.
The statement also described the R316 personal care allowance as insufficient. It did not say whether any change to the amount is planned.
What we do not yet know
The figures above come from the department's statement and have not been independently confirmed with NSFAS or the institutions. The statement does not explain why the Unisa numbers it gives account for fewer than the 2,955 students it mentions, nor when the remaining students are expected to be paid.
