ABOUT 45 927 students were disqualified from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) funding.
This is after they submitted falsified or fraudulent documents to the financial aid scheme.
It is said the students provided correct parental relationships in their first application attempt, and when they were rejected due to the financial status of those parents, they reapplied with different parental relationships.
When Nsfas did a re-evaluation of applications, the system picked up the original information which was previously submitted.
This was revealed by the board of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) after meeting with the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande on Tuesday, 8 August.
The meeting was for the discussion of the 2023 funding decision and payment of allowances. The board confirmed that after re-evaluation of funding, 14 703 applications were reinstated and 31 224 remained disqualified.
ALSO READ: Poverty killed my Tshedimoso!
“The major reason for disqualification was that most first-time entering students had a household income of more than 350 000 with returning students either not meeting the required academic progression, which is 50% of all registered modules or exceeding the N+ rule,” the board said.
The board said those who are disqualified are given an opportunity to appeal and submit supporting documents.
In August, students marched and picketed at the Union Buildings in Tshwane as they were not happy with allowance payments from the scheme and did not want a third-party interference in their allowances.
Among challenges faced were the system's collapse, and some students not receiving allowances for two months due to the system's failure.
Nzimande re-emphasised his support for the implementation of the Student-Centred Model by Nsfas which places the needs of students at the heart of the scheme’s operations but also streamlines all processes that affect the disbursement of funds for tuition, transport, food and accommodation.
