Timing of NSFAS allowance payment sparks outrage
Frustrated NSFAS-funded students at North-West University (NWU’s) have complained on
social media after receiving only one of their two expected allowance payments for February.
Affected students are accusing student leaders of delayed communication about changes to the payment arrangements for the year. NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) is the government’s bursary scheme for students in need of financial support.
The outrage follows a statement released on 23 February by the Student Campus Council
(SCC) Mahikeng, stating that allowances for the year would be paid according to the standard monthly cycle.
This meant that students would receive one allowance in February, with the final tenth payment to be made on 25 November. However, this contradicted an earlier statement issued on 12 February which indicated that the two allowances for February and March would both be paid in February, similar to how it was done in 2025.
Many students reacted strongly to the announcement in the comment section of the SCC
post. Some questioned why such decisions were communicated only after students had
already budgeted based on the earlier notice.
Others said the change placed unnecessary financial pressure on those who had already made commitments for monthly expenses, including transport and groceries. However, a smaller group welcomed the revised payment structure, arguing that later payments would prevent students from running out of money right before the final examinations in November.
Tshegofatso “Tiger” Lekalakala, convener of the Economic Freedom Fighters Youth
Command (EFFYC) at NWU Potchefstroom Campus, told threestreamsmedia that the
payment structure “unfairly affects poor and working-class students”.
He says the EFFYC has been engaging with university management to challenge the system of paying half the book allowances and two living allowances in February.
Lekalakala emphasised that the SCC does not have decision-making powers, as allowance decisions are largely taken by university management.
He added that the revised system was introduced after complaints last year when students received their final allowance in October and therefore struggled financially during November exams.