Dear Editor
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has promised the Higher Education & Training Committee in Parliament that there would be no glitches or interrupted payments for tuition and accommodation at the start of the 2026 academic year.
To hold NSFAS to account, the DA, with the DA Student Organization, will embark on oversights across our country to ensure words meet action.
NSFAS sought to present that all was fine with the entity. Former Minister Nkabane’s legacy of maladministration continues to undermine this promise. Because of Nkabane’s irregular appointments to the board, NSFAS stands to be without a board entirely, as the appointments are reviewed in court. The best case scenario is NSFAS having an interim board, while the entire process is restarted.
This is completely unfair to students, who need NSFAS to be their leg up to economic opportunities.
Minister Manamela sought to spin this with promises that may backfire, as opposed to being honest to the mess left by his ANC-predecessor.
Caring for students, the DA will closely monitor the milestones promised by NSFAS and we will conduct oversight at institutions of higher learning to ensure nothing is swept under the carpet.
Regards
Dr Delmaine Christians MP
DA Spokesperson on Higher Education and Training