On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, a group of determined students from various universities and TVET colleges in South Africa converged on the Department of Higher Education and Training in Pretoria. Their mission was clear, to protest the chronic delays and shortfalls in National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding that have left many struggling to make ends meet.
The students, represented by organizations such as the South African Students Federation and the South African Student Congress (SASCO), expressed deep frustration over the lack of transparency and communication from NSFAS and university administrations. Many students are facing financial hardship, with some struggling to cover necessities like accommodation, food, and transportation due to delayed disbursement of NSFAS funds. The situation has become so dire that some students have even been forced to consider dropping out of their studies due to the financial strain
Keamogetswe Masike, president of the South African Students Federation, highlighted the plight of many qualifying learners who remain defunded or have had allowances wrongfully discontinued. Masike urged Minister Nobuhle Nkabane to allocate at least half of the DHET budget to cover tuition shortfalls and fulfill all approved appeals. “The current funding crisis is having a devastating impact on students’ lives and academic progress,” Masike emphasized.
The students delivered a memorandum of demands to the DHET chief director, Thivhudziwi Vele, who promised to acknowledge receipt and respond. The students are demanding reforms from the public entity and a face-to-face meeting with Minister Nobuhle Nkabane to discuss their grievances. As the students marched, the City of Tshwane cautioned commuters about road closures on Struben, Madiba, and Pretorius streets, advising alternative routes to minimize disruption.
The protest underscores the ongoing challenges faced by many students in accessing funding and support for their studies. The students’ demands for immediate action and sustainable solutions to the NSFAS funding crisis highlight the need for a more effective and responsive system that supports students’ academic success.
