New NSFAS system for direct payment and defunding of students
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is implementing its new Direct Payment method that will allow for the quick payment of students, but also for the direct defunding of non-deserving beneficiaries.
Last year, NSFAS started the pilot phase of its Direct Payment of student allowances through their bank card at TVET colleges and last week the system was also implemented at all universities.
Previously, NSFAS paid student allowances through the financial divisions of all universities.
However, students are unhappy with the new system, claiming it is giving problems with receiving payments.
The outcry by students has led to protests on some campuses.
NSFAS spokesperson Slumezi Skosana says management will meet with student leaders and service providers on Tuesday morning to iron out problems.
“Our systems constantly do a verification of the information given to us by students which helps to inform the decisions we take. So should the information provided not meet the criteria or be found to be false, we can defund the beneficiary” says Skosana.
He has urged students to be vigilant of misinformation and scammers online.
“They will be paid as efficiently as possible but for the system to work people must come on board and should stop listening to the misinformation on social media. As soon as they can on-board themselves on the system as per SMS’s sent by our direct payment partners as well as ourselves to them and as soon as they do so the money will come into their accounts.
“They must be on the lookout for scammers and should not give out their personal details to anyone then come back and want to blame the service provider.”
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