By BAKANG MOKOTO
6 June 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it condemned the burning of the offices of the Northern Cape Urban Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College offices in Kimberley. This week, the college was allegedly torched by protesting students over the delays in receiving their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances.
Students who have been unable to pay rent or study fees due to NSFAS’ failures are being put in an impossible position – but burning and breaking TVET College offices and campuses will never solve the problems NSFAS has created. The DA condemns the destruction of property.
The DA Deputy Spokesperson on Higher Education and Member of Parliament (MP), Desiree van der Walt said burning of TVET offices will only further hamper the students’ end goal. Van der Walt said students demonstrated their frustration and delays, while NSFAS tries to complete their “reconciliation process” – which became necessary after the switch from direct payment partners back to NSFAS – is now boiling over.
She further said NSFAS must rapidly complete this process in such a way that causes no suffering to vulnerable students. Van der Walt added that payment cannot be withheld any longer.
“We will submit parliamentary questions to NSFAS to find out how many students have been affected by the Scheme’s reconciliation process. This will include what NSFAS is doing to ensure that students do not become destitute, suffer hunger, or have to interrupt their academic year due to its failures,” she said.
In April 2025, NSFAS urged students who have received R10 800 designated for accommodation allowances to settle their outstanding payments with their landlords as soon as possible. NSFAS said full remittances of the payments made to students have already been provided to the respective institutions.
“Students are encouraged to submit the appropriate proof of payment to their respective college Financial Aid Officers. It is important to note that failure to comply may result in eviction or deductions from future allowances.
“This call from NSFAS comes in response to a misunderstanding regarding the student allowance payment of R13,800 made to students on April 4, 2025, of which R10,800 has been allocated specifically for accommodation purposes.”
NSFAS said it obtains a comprehensive list of students who have applied for accommodation through solution partners (SPs). It said this list is then verified by the institution to confirm whether students qualify for NSFAS-accredited accommodation or transport.
“Unfortunately, some students who received direct payments were not included in this global list and were not confirmed by the institution in a timely manner as eligible for accommodation, which led to allowances being disbursed to these students.
“In light of this situation, NSFAS, effective 10 April 2025, requests that institutions promptly inform students residing in NSFAS-accredited accommodation—who have received these funds intended for housing—to settle their outstanding payments with their landlords.”
The Guardian 