Briefing by the DHET, USAF, SAPCO, SAUS, SATVETSA and NFSAS on the readiness for the 2025 academic year, with Deputy Minister

The Committee convened at False Bay Technical Vocational Education and Training ( TVET) College's head office to receive briefings from various stakeholders, including the Department of Higher Education and Training (Department), Universities South Africa (USAf), the South African Public Colleges Organisation (SAPCO), the South African Union of Students (SAUS), the South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training Student Association ( SATVETSA), and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) on the state of readiness for the 2025 academic year. Each year, the Committee emphasised the importance of universities submitting accurate student registration and enrolment data to NSFAS at the start of the academic year to ensure proper funding decisions. During the meeting, USAf expressed concerns about NSFAS's inadequate information and communications technology systems and the insufficient number of staff at institutions to assist students when the systems experienced issues. However, NSFAS responded that they currently had 24 servicing administrators, alongside 76 graduates who were previously funded by NSFAS, to provide additional support. Further, NSFAS assured Members that its partners would offer extra assistance to facilitate the onboarding process. Members recommended that issues stemming from the 2024 registration period should be resolved to avoid recurrence in 2025. These issues included delays in processing funding applications, the disbursement of allowances, handling appeals, and matters related to private accommodation. Additionally, NSFAS announced the termination of the pilot project and the launch of the NSFAS Accredited Student Accommodation Programme. They also stated that discussions were underway to discontinue accommodation disbursements to individual students. By 2026, all accommodation disbursements would be directed to accredited or recognised accommodation providers. The SAUS called on NSFAS to resolve the backlog of student f