NSFAS grilled at Parliament’s higher education committee briefing

NSFAS is facing significant operational challenges, including unresolved ICT system issues and delays in payments to landlords managing student accommodation.
Parliament’s higher education committee criticized NSFAS for non-payment, unnecessary spending, and reliance on service providers charging commissions, which has led to student evictions and financial strain on landlords.
NSFAS has disbursed over R16 billion in funding this year but is struggling with a backlog of student appeals and unsuccessful management of accommodation payments.
The institution is actively exploring legal reviews of problematic contracts and considering relocating from costly Cape Town offices amid criticism of expenses and inefficiencies.