Pixaby
The Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) has strongly criticized the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for its failure to fund and accommodate thousands of deserving students.
AZAPO says the crisis which primarily affects black students from poor families has left many students in limbo about their academic futures.
It says despite years of repeated promises of reform, "NSFAS has consistently failed to deliver on its
mandate."
AZAPO says many students have been forced to drop out due to a lack of funding, while others struggle to secure accommodation, leaving them vulnerable to homelessness and exploitation.
The organisation says "The newly appointed chairperson of the board [Dr. Karen Stander] was unsatisfactory in her response during an interview with the media," failing to provide clear solutions.
Students across the country have been protesting since the start of the academic year due to funding shortfalls.
The University of Cape Town has transitioned to online classes as students continue to push for immediate solutions. Meanwhile, at the University of Witwatersrand, the Students' Representative Council has initiated a hunger strike to address registration challenges and financial exclusion.
The organization is demanding urgent action, including the immediate disbursal of funds, provision of safe accommodation, and greater transparency in NSFAS’s decision-making processes.
AZAPO has also called on Higher Education Minister, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, to intervene, warning that the future of South Africa’s youth is at stake.
