On 4 May 2026, Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela announced that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has been placed under administration, citing persistent governance failures, financial irregularities, and significant operational challenges that have undermined the scheme’s effective functioning.
Professor Mathebula has been appointed as Administrator. The Minister has assured students that core services will continue uninterrupted during the administration period, including the disbursement of student funding and allowances, the processing of appeals, and ongoing engagement with universities and TVET colleges.
Universities South Africa (USAf) has acknowledged the intervention as potentially necessary but has raised concern that it addresses symptoms rather than root causes, describing a recurring pattern of crisis, temporary stabilisation, and resurfacing structural problems. USAf is calling for a comprehensive, systemic review of South Africa’s entire student funding model, rather than repeated administrative interventions.
What this means for students: if you currently receive NSFAS funding or have a pending application or appeal, there is no indication that these processes will be interrupted. Continue to monitor official NSFAS and university communications for any changes.
Featured image: “The Union Buildings, Pretoria” by Robert Cutts, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
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