Deputy Higher Education and Training Minister Yusuf Cassim pledged faster NSFAS responses after students at Western TVET college reported unpaid allowances this month.

The delays have left many students without essential funds, leading to reports of evictions from their residences. This crisis highlights ongoing instability in the distribution of financial aid to South Africa's higher education students.

During a visit to the college in Krugersdorp on July 16, Cassim addressed students who have been struggling to receive their July 2026 [3] payments. Approximately 400 students [1] at the institution lodged formal complaints regarding the missing funds.

The crisis extends beyond a single campus. Reports indicate that over 93,000 students [2] have been affected by the payment delays across the system. The lack of funds has created an immediate housing crisis for those relying on the allowances for rent.

There is a conflict between institutions regarding the cause of the failure. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) said technical issues caused the July payment delays. However, the University of South Africa (UNISA) rejected that explanation and said systemic challenges were responsible for the disruptions.

Cassim said the department is working to ensure that responses to student queries are accelerated to prevent further hardship. The deputy minister's visit aimed to address the immediate grievances of the Krugersdorp students while the broader dispute between the funding body and the university continues.

“Students at Western TVET college in Krugersdorp reported unpaid NSFAS allowances and evictions.”

The dispute between NSFAS and UNISA over whether the delays are 'technical' or 'systemic' suggests a deeper administrative fracture in South Africa's student funding model. When the funding body and the academic institution disagree on the root cause of a failure, resolving the issue for the 93,000 affected students becomes more difficult, as it indicates a lack of coordinated oversight in the disbursement pipeline.