The higher education sector gets new leadership

Four days after being inaugurated as the president of the Republic Of South Africa, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, announced his Cabinet on Wednesday evening,May 29 2019.The National Student Financial Aid Scheme will now report under a new Ministry, that of Higher Education, Science and Innovation led by Dr. Blade Nzimande and Deputy Minisister Buti Manamela.

Dr. Nzimande is not new to the higher education sector as he has been the Minister of Higher education and Training before.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme’s (NSFAS’) Board met with the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation (PCHESI) at the NSFAS Head office on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. The main purpose of the meeting was to formally introduce the members of the Board to PCHEST and to provide an overall status update on 2021 funding.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme’s (NSFAS’) Board met with the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology (PCHEST) at the NSFAS Head office on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. The main purpose of the meeting was to formally introduce the members of the Board to PCHEST and to provide an overall status update on 2021 funding.

The members of PCHET and the NSFAS Board were first taken through the NSFAS student journey via a student experience exhibition, where stalls were demarcated to cover the process of Application, Evaluation, Financial and Academic Eligibility, Appeals, Registration and Disbursement, Payment to students using the NSFAS Wallet as well as payment to students whose funds are channelled through their institutions.

During the exhibition, the NSFAS Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Andile Nongogo took the attendees through the entire process; providing process and system information at each stage the students’ application goes through before a funding decision is made.

As part of the scheme’s bid to better clarify the two methods of allowance disbursements in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, Ms. Vuyokazi Mafilika, NSFAS' General Manager for TVET Operations comprehensively unpacked the allowance payment process for students receiving their funds through the NSFAS Wallet and those receiving direct payments from institutions.

After the exhibition, the delegates gathered in a closed-door session during which the board briefed PCHEST on its plan to turn around the scheme and improve services to students. Thereafter, the Board Chairperson, Mr. Ernest Khosa, and PCHEST Chairperson Mr. P. Mapulane, MP, jointly addressed members of the media who were present.

“As a principle, the current Board recognises the value of continuous, constructive and consultative engagements with PCHEST, towards achieving the shared goal of turning the institution around for the benefit of the key stakeholder, the student," said, Mr. Khosa.

Keep your details up-to-date

Students who wish to change their contact details can do so by:

• Login to my.nsfas.org.za
• On the already registered tab
• Enter your username and Password Click on sign in button
• Click on my personal details
• Go to the cellphone number section
• Delete and remove and type in the new cellphone number Click on update details
• OTP will be sent to your new number
• Enter OTP and submit

Number is successfully changed (if a duplicate number exists student will get an error message) Students who are unable to change their details online can use the manual process by emailing certified copy of their green barcoded ID or smart card, and a completed affidavit specifying that they have changed their cell phone number; with the new and old number listed to uds@nsfas.org.za.

How to re-register your myNSFAS account

To access your funding progress through your myNSFAS account, you are required to register or re-register a myNSFAS account:

• Go to www.nsfas.org.za
• Click myNSFAS tab
• Click register
• Tick the box to allow NSFAS to verify your details
• Then capture ID number as it is stated on your ID document
• Type in your full names and surname as per your ID number
• Type in your current email address
• Confirm your email address
• Type in your cellphone number
• Create a password
• Confirm password
• Upload ID Copy
• Click register
• OTP will be sent to the email and cell number provided (this OTP expires after 24 hours)
• Type in the OTP and Click submit
• You have now completed your re-registration

TO COMPLETE REGISTERATION YOU WILL NEED A COPY OF YOUR ID. FOR USERS WITH THE ID CARD MAKE SURE THAT YOU UPLOAD A COPY REFLECTING BOTH SIDES OF YOUR ID CARD.

YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WILL BE YOUR USERNAME. PLEASE PROTECT YOUR USERNAME AND PASSWORD.