Inconsistency in NSFAS aid revealed

STUDENTS funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) at Western Cape universities have taken to social media to complain about disparities in the allowance they receive for food and transport.

Following news of a Walter Sisulu University of Technology student in the Eastern Cape whose account was credited with R14 million from NSFAS instead of her R1 400 monthly allowance a few weeks ago, Cape students who commented on social media revealed disparities in the amounts paid to students at various institutions.

A Weekend Argus investigation showed students at the Cape Peninsula University were receiving an allowance of R300 a month for food and transport while Stellenbosch University students received between R1 000 and R1 500. At UCT, students received a monthly allowance of R1 700, while at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) students received shopping vouchers of varying amounts.

A UWC student, who spoke to Weekend Argus on condition of anonymity, said she received monthly Pick n Pay vouchers to the tune of R4 000 a year as a food allowance during her first year. This was increased to R4 500 in her second year but she received none in her final year as she performed poorly in her majors, she said.

The student said they were able to negotiate with NSFAS for more vouchers should their food run out and that the extra vouchers were then added to the student’s total NSFAS bill, which should be paid back once the student was employed.

NSFAS funds students at universities and technical vocational education and training colleges. The scheme covers tuition, accommodation and food according to each student’s needs assessment. The tuition and accommodation monies are then credited to the institution and the allowance is credited directly to the student through the sBux system.

According to NSFAS, the sBux system is an allowance disbursement system which allows students to transact at participating stores using their cellphones.

At UCT, students who live in self-catering units on campus receive R1 700 a month, SRC member Naledi Mbaba said.

Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s secretary general of the central SRC, Mbaliyezwe Madikizela, said in some instances students only received R300 a month and this money was not necessarily deposited on a regular basis.

She added that the majority of NSFAS recipients came from poor families and communities and received no financial assistance from their families. “I don’t think NSFAS understands the urgency of the situation. Some students have also waited for months now to hear whether their applications for funding (for 2018) have been successful or not,” said Madikizela.

Stellenbosch University student representative Lynshay Julies said: “Funds for food and transport are paid timeously and, other than a few initial setbacks, everything is sorted now.” SU students received extra money for transport, which was separate from their food allowance, Julies added.