The Financial Aid unit at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) recently hosted a National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Roadshow to highlight the NSFAS eligibility criteria and the conditions for financial aid. The roadshow was held over four days at the Ritson campus Hall, Durban and Indumiso campus Hall in Pietermaritzburg.

Day three of the roadshow was dedicated to the students living with disabilities where the NSFAS eligibility and criteria was explained to them. The roadshow ended on a high note with a Bursary Day where most students got a chance to interact with the various donor companies offering bursaries and took home amazing prize such as laptops, iPads and many more.

Explaining the NSFAS financial eligibility were the Financial Aid counsellors at DUT who began by explaining that the student must be a South African citizen whose combined household income is not more than R350 000 and for a student living with a disability, the combined household income must not be more than R600 000.

NSFAS eligibility criteria and conditions:

• NSFAS only funds public institutions.
• It does not fund a second qualification.
• It is important to note that NSFAS funds one qualification at one institution per academic year.
• Students that no longer comply with the N+ rule may not be funded. The N+ rule indicates that students are funded for the duration of their qualification with an added one year, meanwhile for students living with disabilities two years are added over and above the duration of their qualification.
• Continuing students do not need to reapply every year. However, students who have completed Higher Certificates and students from TVET Colleges who would like to be considered for funding for full Diploma/Degree Qualification would need to re-apply for funding, including students who de-register/drop out/gap semesters will also need to re-apply for funding.

For students to continue receiving NSFAS funding, the team explained that they need to obtain a credit pass of 55% and above in their course. They further explained that NSFAS has taken over the payment of allowances, and it pays allowances directly to students via eZaga only for DHET general students. The Financial Aid unit will continue to pay allowances for NSFAS disability and pre-funded students. The team further shared the NSFAS contact details for all students experiencing problems with their allowances and urged students to also reach out to them for any other assistance.

A representative from NSFAS and eZaga were invited to present and engage with the students with the aim to address some of the issues faced by students. The eZaga representative began by explaining that eZaga only pays students based on the list it receives from NSFAS. He indicated that their aim was to make the process of accessing student allowances a lot simpler. Students got a chance to share their challenges and the eZaga representative managed to provide guidance and assistance.

 A NSFAS official, Mr Botsonyana Nyareri, addressed the students living with disabilities and shared the disability programme for 2024. He vowed to assist the students with the application process to make their lives easier. He also acknowledged that the approval process for students living with disabilities takes too long, which is one of the things he plans to change come 2024.

BURSARY DAY

The fun-filled Bursary Day began with a warm welcome from the DUT Financial Aid Manager, Mr Absolom Manashe who encouraged the students to seize the opportunities provided to them and always strive for excellence.

Sharing the same sentiments was Dr Naseem Haniff, Director: Student Counselling and Health at DUT. She acknowledged the sponsors for their generosity and in assisting DUT in producing graduates. She encouraged the students to never allow their backgrounds to determine their future, always be positive in life and always put in the hard work to achieve their dreams.

The purpose of this event was to also provide more information about bursaries from different organisations. This event was attended by numerous sponsors including SANRAL, Lenovo Southern Africa, eThekwini municipal academy, Hollywood Foundation, KSB Pumps Valves Pty Ltd , Kingdom Slot, Industrial Development Corporation

( DC), Dube Trade port, Umpheme Foundation, Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development. Each sponsor was given an opportunity to present to students about their respective organisations, funding criteria’s and employment opportunities.

After each session of the presentation, there were question and answers and lucky draws whereby students won themselves tablets and laptops from the incredible funders

The Bursary Day and NSFAS Road shows was a huge success, and the students thanked the Financial Aid unit for organising such an informative event that helped them to gain more knowledge on the NSFAS criteria’s and get to learn of bursary opportunities that are available to them.

Pictured: The Financial Aid team with the students living with disabilities during the NSFAS Roadshow.

Photographer: Robin Moodley.

Simangele Zuma