NSFAS calls on students to settle accommodation allowance payments

Published Apr 14, 2025

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The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has issued a statement urging  students who have received R10,800 designated for accommodation allowances to settle their outstanding payments with their landlords as soon as possible. 

Student protested earlier this year when universities opened to the lack of accommodation

The scheme said full remittances of the payments made to students have already been provided to the respective institutions. Students are encouraged to submit the appropriate proof of payment to their respective college Financial Aid Officers. It is important to note that failure to comply may result in eviction or deductions from future allowances,” it said. 

This call comes in response to a misunderstanding regarding the student allowance

payment of R13,800 made to students on April 4, of which R10,800 has been allocated specifically for accommodation purposes. 

“To clarify, NSFAS obtains a comprehensive list of students who have applied for accommodation through solution partners (SPs). This list is then verified by the institution to confirm whether students qualify for NSFAS-accredited accommodation or transport. Unfortunately, some students who received direct payments were not included in this global list and were not confirmed by the institution in a timely manner as eligible for accommodation, which led to allowances being disbursed to these students,” the statement continued. 

In light of this situation, NSFAS, effective April 10, 2025, requests that institutions promptly inform students residing in NSFAS-accredited accommodation—who have received these funds intended for housing—to settle their outstanding payments with their landlords.

Additionally, NSFAS calls upon the Student Representative Council (SRC) and all student organizations to ensure that the affected students adhere to this request to avoid unnecessary inconveniences. NSFAS remains committed to fostering a safe and conducive environment for student learning and well-being.