South Africa: NSFAS Pays Over R222 Million to Six Universities for Funza Lushaka Bursaries

What the report says

South Africa’s National Student Financial Aid Scheme has transferred R222.7 million to six universities to support the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme, according to a report distributed by AllAfrica from SAnews.gov.za. The payment covers 2,927 students and was confirmed after a meeting in Cape Town on Thursday between Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Yusuf Cassim, senior NSFAS officials and the programme team.

The universities named in the latest payment round are the Central University of Technology, North-West University, the University of Fort Hare, the University of Limpopo, the University of Pretoria and the University of South Africa. NSFAS said the institutions must now process the money and pass on allowances to students. Cassim urged the agency to move quickly so beneficiaries do not face further delays in receiving support they need for their studies.

The Funza Lushaka bursary is a government-backed scheme aimed at students training to become teachers. It is funded by the Department of Basic Education, while NSFAS serves as the disbursement body that sends funds to universities. The article said there are still outstanding claims from institutions, and that September payments will be processed after verification checks. It also noted that a joint workshop is planned for November 2026 to address payment bottlenecks and reduce manual procedures.