By Lungisani Mkhulise
A spat between the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has led to the disruption of lectures as it isn’t clear on who is to blame for over a thousand students not receiving their allowances and getting defunded by the scheme meant to help students who cannot afford university studies in South Africa.
“More than 1,000 DUT students have been defunded, but this is also affecting students from other institutions like CUT,” explains Students Representative Council (SRC) deputy secretary, Wandiswa Mncube.
DUT says NSFAS stopped accepting student profiles that they were yet to enter into the system and cited a shortage of funds. NSFAS denies this and asked DUT to retract the statement. However, DUT issued a later press release that said lectures must cease for now and only resume on 12 May.
The DUT statement admits that the university was late in its submissions to NSFAS.
“On 25 April 2025, DUT submitted a memorandum to NSFAS, as per their request, outlining the valid reasons for the delay in registering a total of 1671 students. However, no response or acknowledgement has been received from NSFAS to date,” reads the statement.
Throughout the week, men in masks and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) shirts would force students out of lectures. There would be protest action in various campuses. EFF Students Congress says it cannot confirm that its their members who would pull students out of lectures.
They were, however, at the forefront of campus protest action.
“This is a betrayal of the poor and working-class students, the institution has failed to respond to the cries of students. We will not fold our arms while students are unable to afford food, accommodation and transport,” explains an EFFSC Facebook post.
Defunded students say they’re now in limbo.
“I used to rely on NSFAS for everything, rent, food, and transport. Now I have been left in the dark without warning. It feels like being thrown away,” says third year student, Ayabonga Duma.
It’s not clear whether these issues will be resolved when lectures resume on Monday.
