Students are Stranded on Campus Due to Unpaid NSFAS Allowances. The joyous festive season typically signifies a well-deserved break spent with loved ones; however, for some students at a North West university, the season has turned distressing. Unpaid allowances from the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) have left them stranded on campus, devoid of funds to journey home.
Delayed Allowances Disrupt Student Plans
At the North West University (NWU), students express frustration as NSFAS fails to disburse their November 2024 allowances. This financial setback impedes their ability to make travel arrangements and leaves them without the means to afford essential items like food.
Accommodation Dilemma | 1300 Students Left in Limbo
The conclusion of the academic year necessitates the evacuation of campus accommodation. Approximately 1300 students at NWU Mahikeng campus find themselves in a precarious situation due to unpaid NSFAS allowances for both November and December.
Management Awaits Answers
Despite the mounting challenges faced by students, NWU management is yet to receive an official response from NSFAS explaining the delay in allowance disbursement.
Pervasive Impact on Students and Education
The delayed allowances not only disrupt students’ personal lives but also affect their academic pursuits. South African Students Congress Provincial Secretary, Paseka Molete, denounces the situation, highlighting that some students haven’t received allowances since November 2023, adversely impacting their ability to sustain themselves during examinations.
Financial Strain and Hindered Mobility
Molete emphasizes the vital role of NSFAS allowances in students’ lives, serving as funds for necessities such as food, toiletries, and travel expenses. With the current delay, students are unable to meet these essential needs, prompting efforts to raise funds for stranded students trying to return home.
Unsuccessful Attempts to Seek Answers
Efforts to seek clarity from the service provider responsible for distributing NSFAS allowances at the university have proven fruitless. Despite multiple letters to NSFAS, the Minister of Higher Education, and the appointed distribution company, Norroco, there is no resolution in sight.
Student Voices | Pleas for Assistance
Thandolwethu Dlamini, a student at NWU, voices the struggles faced since May 2023, having not received allowances from NSFAS. The university’s attempts to assist with transportation have proven ineffective, with buses procured for student travel failing to return for the remaining students. Dlamini advocates for direct financial assistance, suggesting that even a nominal amount, such as R500, could empower students to make their own travel arrangements.
Conclusion
The situation at NWU underscores the urgency of addressing the NSFAS allowance delays, as students face financial strain and the prospect of spending the festive season away from home. Immediate action is crucial to ensure students can access the funds they need for basic necessities and travel expenses.
