Here's why NSFAS Payments are delayed in 2025

Many students who rely on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for financial support in 2025 have been left frustrated by delayed payments. While NSFAS plays a crucial role in providing funding for students across South Africa, recent delays have sparked concern among those awaiting their allowances.

 According to NSFAS, these delays are due to various factors. Here's a closer look at the reasons behind the NSFAS payment delays in 2025.

Reasons for the NSFAS Payment Delays

Higher Learning Institutions Failed to submit registration data to NSFAS 

Many TVET Colleges in South Africa have not yet submitted their registration data of their registered students. This simply means that NSFAS cannot start the process to distribute the allowances to students studying in TVET Colleges that have not uploaded the registration data. 

NSFAS Stated that "At the commencement of the business day on the 4th of March 2025, we had 18 TVET colleges which have uploaded registrations for some of their students and this therefore means that NSFAS is only able to make payments for these 18 TVET colleges' students for 2025"

As of the 4th of March 2025, 32 TVET colleges in South Africa had not submitted their students' registration data, resulting in more students being affected by delays in NSFAS payments in the 2025 academic year. 

NSFAS has stressed that it is closely monitoring ongoing registration data to ensure that payments are made correctly and on time. 

The payments will only be processed once the necessary registration data has been uploaded.

This process is designed to ensure that NSFAS pays only based on valid and verified data uploaded by institutions. The delay is a direct result of institutions not meeting the submission deadline, which is essential for ensuring that financial aid reaches students who are properly registered.

Students affected by the delays are urged to check with their respective institutions to confirm whether their registration details have been uploaded. NSFAS has assured learners that it is working hard to ensure all valid applications are processed as quickly as possible once the necessary data is received.

While the delay is inconvenient, NSFAS’s commitment to paying students based on valid data is a step toward ensuring the financial aid reaches the right individuals and is not delayed by incorrect or incomplete information.

Students Submit Invalid Banking Details 

Other major delay of NSFAS payment is the invalid banking details students provide. Upon the verification process of banking details, NSFAS has discovered that some students have provided incorrect banking details, dormant banking accounts and bank accounts that do not belong to them. 

These problems lead to the verification process status to be "unsuccessful" causing more delays to releasing of payments. 

Students are urged to take the following actions if they provided invalid banking details

• Check and Update Your Banking Details
• The bank account must be in your own name (NSFAS does not pay into accounts that aren’t registered under your name).
• Make sure the account is active and capable of receiving deposits.
• Once updated, NSFAS will verify your new details before releasing any payments (This process may take a few working days)
• Visit MyNSFAS portal to check the status of your banking details. If everything is in order you will see a status written "verification successful"  

Conclusion

In conclusion, while NSFAS continues to work tirelessly to process payments as quickly and accurately as possible, students are encouraged to follow up with their institutions and ensure their banking information is correct and up to date.

 Although the delays are frustrating, they are part of a necessary process to ensure funds are paid to the right students, based on verified and accurate information.