Nsfas has warned that students face eviction or seeing future allowances being deducted.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) on Monday called on all funded students who received R10 800 for accommodation to settle their outstanding rent payments urgently.
This comes after widespread confusion surrounding the R13 800 allowance disbursed to students on 4 April 2025.
Nsfas has clarified that R10 800 of that amount was specifically allocated for accommodation expenses, not for general use.
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Students at risk of eviction
Nsfas has warned that not paying landlords could lead to students facing eviction or deductions from future allowances.
“Students are urged to settle their accommodation fees with landlords as a matter of urgency,” it stated.
“They must also submit proof of payment to their college financial aid officers without delay.”
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Nsfas also noted that the full remittances have already been paid to the relevant institutions, which are responsible for ensuring that funds reach the appropriate recipients.
Nsfas says verification delays caused confusion
The financial aid scheme attributed the confusion to a breakdown in verification processes.
It said it relies on a master list provided by solution partners (SPs), which includes students who applied for accommodation support.
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Institutions are expected to verify and confirm eligibility before allowances are distributed.
“Some students who received direct payments were not included in the global list and were not confirmed by their institutions in time.
“This led to the R10 800 being disbursed to students who may not have qualified for Nsfas-accredited accommodation,” it said.
SRC urged to assist in enforcement
Nsfas has appealed to student representative councils (SRCs) and other student organisations to support the initiative by educating students and encouraging prompt action to prevent further miscommunication and ensure compliance.
“Institutional leadership must inform students in Nsfas-accredited accommodation to pay their landlords. This will avoid unnecessary inconveniences and help maintain a stable learning environment,” it added.
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