The source of misleading information is not clear, but NSFAS says it must have come from a university in Quazulu-Natal.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has removed itself from a false statement on social media, claiming that its 2025 registration portal has been closed due to lack of budget.
The scheme condemned the message as misleading and warned of damage to such misinformation and widespread to students and comprehensive higher education sectors.
‘Fake news’
According to NSFAS, the fake message alleged that: “Due to lack of ongoing NSFAs budget, 2025 registration portal has been closed. Therefore, NSFAS has advised that no registration template will be accepted until further notice.”
NSFAS rejected the claim on Wednesday, calling it a “gross wrong” of its operational status.
The scheme said, “The NSFAS unevenly wants to remove itself from the message that wandered on the social media platform.”
Explaining false claims, NSFAS confirmed that the registration system is completely functional since March.
“On March 3, NSFAS issued a circular notice to all universities, confirming that the NSFAS portal was ready to obtain valid registration data,” the statement said.
While the official deadline for submission of registration data to institutions was 31 March, universities were encouraged to complete the internal time limit of 14 March to ensure quick processing and allowance payment.
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Delay due to late presentations
NSFAS expressed disappointment that some institutions including Durban University of Technology (Dut) failed to complete the recommended time limit.
It was denied by Dut.
The scheme said, “This non-compliance has regrettably influenced qualified students as tuition and living allowances,” the plan said.
It has progressed in addressing the delay since then.
“On May 6, the plan successfully released student allowance payment to the affected universities,” it confirmed.
The scheme confirmed his dedication to support students and ensure that money has been distributed efficiently.
“NSFAS is committed to ensuring that eligible students receive their money on time and efficiently and urge all institutions to comply with the time limit of data submission,” said this.
The Financial Assistance Body encouraged students to verify all official communication through their website or authorized institutional channels, which authorize institutional channels to avoid falling for false information.
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University called to clarify
The source of misleading information is not clear, but the NSFAS has pointed out the possibility that it may arise from the University of Durban Technology at Quazulu-Natal.
The plan said, “This statement (this university, IT) should be formally requested to issue an immediate reform.”
In response, Dut said no official institutional communication or media statement was issued by the university, claiming about NSFAS.
“The information referred to in the NSFAS statement originated from the direct communication sent by the Financial Assistance Unit, which was given to a group of 1671 affected Dut students on Monday, 05 May 2025.
Dut said in a statement, “Those students had to provide accurate and transparent information to those students related to their May 2025 NSFAS allowance payment status, which, as the university’s commitment, was as part of the commitment to honest and responsible communication,” Dut said in a statement.
Dut said that from the time limit of NSFAs of 2 April 2025, 23 464 students were successfully uploaded.
“On 03 April 2025, an additional 634 templates were uploaded, when the portal remained accessible.
“However, another 1037 registration templates could not be uploaded as the system was no longer accepting submission after that date,” said this.
Dut stated that it respects the role of NSFAS “as an important partner in supporting students in higher education and is committed to creative connection to solve any excellent cases”.
However, the university has disappointed that NSFAS issued a public statement, referring to Dut, in which the pre -attached to the university was searched without clarification.
“We confirm that Dut is actively demanding to address this misconception through appropriate channels and is fully committed to the common goal of ensuring that qualified students get financial assistance they deserve.”
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