🔥 Trending Unisa Students Face NSFAS Payment Delays: What You Need to Know

Latest Updates on NSFAS Payment Delays Affecting Unisa Students (July 2026)

As of July 2026, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has been grappling with significant payment delays for allowances designated for University of South Africa (Unisa) students. These delays have impacted over 93,000 NSFAS-funded students, particularly concerning their monthly Personal Care Allowance ¹²⁶. The situation has prompted intervention from the South African government and widespread calls for payment reforms ².

Key Developments and Interventions

The issue has drawn considerable attention from government officials and university management:

• Deputy Minister's Engagement: Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr. Yusuf Cassim, formally engaged with Unisa management, student leaders, and NSFAS representatives in Pretoria to address the delayed Personal Care Allowance payments ³⁵⁷⁸. He also specifically requested a comprehensive briefing on the payment schedule from NSFAS administrator Professor Hlengani Mathebula ¹⁰.
• Conflicting Accounts: There have been conflicting statements regarding the cause of the delays. Unisa has disputed NSFAS's claims concerning responsibility for the payment delays ¹. This disagreement has raised questions about which entity is ultimately accountable for the affected students ¹.
• System Glitches and Resolutions: NSFAS acknowledged technical system challenges affecting some payments, stating that these issues were resolved by July 6, 2026 ⁶. Following the transfer of funds, Unisa reported that it had begun processing the payments ⁶⁹.

Impact on Students

The primary impact on students has been the late receipt of their Personal Care Allowances. This allowance is crucial for students' daily needs, and its delay can significantly affect their ability to manage living expenses and focus on their studies. Approximately 93,093 students receiving this allowance have been affected ⁶.

Current Status of Payments

While Unisa has announced that it has started processing the delayed NSFAS allowance payments, the full resolution and disbursement to all affected students are ongoing ⁹. NSFAS has indicated that remaining payments are currently being processed after the technical issues were addressed ⁴⁶.

The situation highlights ongoing challenges within the NSFAS payment system, particularly for a large institution like Unisa, which has over 38,000 students ⁹. The government continues to monitor the situation and push for reforms to prevent future delays ²¹⁰.