The proposal to terminate the rental agreement of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) headquarters in Cape Town has been welcomed by the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: NSFAS struggles with leadership vacancies and governance crisis
Committee Chair Tebogo Letsie said the site in the Cape Town CBD has always been a contentious issue since it was transferred from its previous leased building in Wynberg.
The decision to move to the city centre was heavily criticised by the committee as most of the students do not have access to their services.
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‘While many students suffered in terms of funding, getting their allowances on time and accommodation challenges, the entity enjoyed a building with scenic views,’ he said, adding that the decision to terminate the lease was ‘long overdue’.
According to a government statement, NSFAS proposed to end the lease to reduce costs, among other reasons.
‘[The] NSFAS budget is bigger than many national departments and we have always maintained that the offices of NSFAS must be in Gauteng where we have the highest concentration of the student population,’ Letsie said.
‘Ultimately, the committee would like to see the decentralisation of NSFAS to all regions which will ensure accessibility to students across the country.’
The new NSFAS 2025 online applications intake opened today to allow for consultations with institutions, stakeholders, and student formations.
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