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NSFAS Logo.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) says it has paid R1.3 billion to private service providers for student accommodation in 2025.
The financial support for this academic year is less than the R2.9 billion paid in 2024. This is according to the Acting CEO for NSFAS Waseem Carrim.
The institution was briefing the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education on the disbursement of funds and student accommodation-related issues, among other things.
Carriem has denied allegations that some of the service providers were not paid their monies due to non-registration or accreditation.
“In 2024, we had 2 200 accommodation providers paid a total of R2.9 billion, covering 81 000 students. In 2025, that number has increased to 3 800 accommodation providers, representing 100 000 students, with R1.3 billion paid to date.
“What I’m trying to illustrate is that we are not seeing a complete collapse where no one is being paid. Payments are being made every month to accommodation providers. However, the system has significant inefficiencies — it does not fully pay all providers, and there are ongoing glitches that still need to be resolved,” Carriem explains.
