Public Protector Says NSFAS Failed to Fulfil Its Mandate as Students Pay the Price
The scheme recovered more than R2 billion after investigators found control failures that left students improperly funded and qualifications withheld.
- On Tuesday, Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka reported that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme improperly funded over 40,000 students across 76 institutions to the tune of R5.1 billion.
- The Special Investigating Unit launched an investigation in 2022 under presidential authority, uncovering that NSFAS has operated in a 'near-permanent state of crisis' and faced administration three times since 2018.
- Administrative failures included a contact centre unable to resolve 80% of queries without escalation, while delays in the Close-Out Project withheld student qualifications. Gcaleka noted these failures materially affected students' "dignity, welfare and ability to participate in higher education."
- Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela must establish a reform committee within 30 calendar days, per Public Protector Gcaleka's orders. Officials must also report on implementation within 100 days or justify any failure to comply.
- The Pretoria High Court suspended administrator Professor Hlengani Mathebula's appointment on August 14, citing governance instability. Judge Neil Labuschagne ruled the board remains functional while authorities work to recover over R2 billion in mismanaged funds.
10 Articles
10 Articles
Billions lost as 40,000 students are improperly funded
Public protector Kholeka Gcaleka has found major systemic failures in the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas), leading to R5.1bn being improperly allocated to more than 40,000 students and causing severe delays and hardships for beneficiaries.
Public Protector says NSFAS failed to fulfil its mandate as students pay the price
The Public Protector has found prima facie evidence of systemic maladministration at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, citing governance failures and delays that have harmed students and left some unable to access their qualifications.
NSFAS under fire as 40,000 students improperly funded to the value of R5.1bn
Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka has raised concerns over systemic failures in student financial aid, citing findings that more than 40,000 students were improperly funded across 76 institutions.
Shock NSFAS finding: 40 000 students improperly funded
More than 40 000 students across 76 higher education institutions received improper funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) worth R5.1-billion, according to a damning Public Protector report. The findings stem from a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe launched under Proclamation R88 of 2022. Authorities have already recovered more than R2-billion of the misspent funds. Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Traini…
eNCA News Bite | NSFAS R5.1bn funding probe, Westbury gang violence and Kolisi injury doubt
eNCA News Bite | NSFAS R5.1bn funding probe, Westbury gang violence and Kolisi injury doubt | 18 August 2026 Siya Tsewu Tue, 08/18/2026 - 20:08 It’s Tuesday, 18 August and this is News Bite with Marcelle Gordon.NSFAS is under fresh scrutiny after a Public Protector investigation found that more than 40,000 students were improperly funded by about R5.1-billion across 76 institutions. Kholeka Gcaleka says the evidence points to possible systemic m…
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