TUT students get Nsfas funding restored after code errors
TUT has confirmed that the affected students' funding has been fully restored and that their September allowances have been paid.
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has restored financial assistance for 182 students after errors in qualification codes triggered the N+ rule, which could defund them. Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Yusuf Cassim, intervened after receiving over 300 complaints from TUT students via the Helpdesk. The issue stemmed from data-sharing problems between TUT's financial aid office and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) and stemmed from students being defunded during pending investigations or due to dual registration.
Correcting the qualification codes for the affected 182 students, TUT and Nsfas confirmed that their September allowances have been paid.
However, accommodation payment delays persist. Cassim visited TUT on September 9, alongside officials from the Department of Higher Education and Training, and revealed that 1,212 students had not received payments despite being placed in accredited accommodation. An additional 115 students had their funding approved by Nsfas after the portal closed, similar to the accommodation payment issues.
Cassim subsequently wrote to the Nsfas Board requesting immediate investigation and assistance for these affected students. This came as part of broader efforts to resolve outstanding Nsfas funding cases, with funding reinstated for 2,476 TVET college students and 3,234 university students. Cassim continued to follow up on cases where funding was restored after investigations concluded, ensuring students received outstanding allowances. Students can contact the Deputy Minister's Helpdesk if their allowances have not been received.
Meanwhile, Nsfas received 2,982 records of dual registrations, of which 1,303 have been confirmed and are currently being paid. TUT also identified 16 resolved dual-registration cases where funding had yet to be restored. Cassim urged Nsfas to prioritize these cases, emphasizing that administrative issues significantly impact students' academic progress, access to allowances, and general well-being.
He stated, "No student should miss academic time due to incorrect data or unresolved issues between the institution and Nsfas."
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