In recent years, students' difficulties with National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding have had a severe impact on educational quality and student life in higher education. On June 8th, Mkhwanazi Inc. hosted UP students for a debate on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Act 56 of 1999. The students remarked on the progression of higher education funding from the Tertiary Education Fund of South Africa (TEFSA), a government loan scheme with students required to repay their loans at the beginning of employment. NSFAS is a study grant for South African nationals who are first-time registered at a public institution and have a combined household income of R350 000 or less.

The students examined the potential benefits and cons of modifying the NSFAS Act, as well as the impact on students' educational rights under Section 29 of the Republic of South Africa's Constitution. Current challenges identified by students include an unstable application portal, administrative delays in acknowledging submissions, delays in communicating application outcomes, inability to pay student allocations on time, which sometimes causes students to be unable to honour accommodation payments to their landlords, and a lack of funds during the registration period.

Each team was given 50 minutes to make their case to their respective coaches, Ms. Sibusisiwe Shamase and Pieter Reyneke. The teams were provided with briefing sheets that defined the format of the discussion, allowing them to thoroughly prepare their points. Ms. Toni Abrahams began her remarks by stating how unfair it is for NSFAS administrators to fail in their duty to ensure that all higher education students receive glitch-free learning. Students are not made to feel as if they are unimportant to the larger educational system simply because they are NSFAS beneficiaries. The long registration queues at all universities and TVET institutes create a bleak picture of administrators unable to provide timely service to students. 

Lifa Yende criticised the government's R350 000 household income threshold, which has not been modified in five years, for failing to take into account the economic squeeze suffered by South African households as a result of our poorly performing economy and the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. He suggests that government organisations such as South African Revenue Services (SARS), the Department of Social Development, the Department of Labour, and the banking sector work with NSFAS to guarantee that prospective beneficiaries are actually deserving and to avoid fraudulent claimants.

Sedzani Netshitungulu emphasised another problem that pupils face. DHET has pledged R3.8 billion to a loan scheme to assist "missing middle" pupils. A group of pupils from homes with a combined income of more than R350 000 but less than R600 000 per year. The money have not yet been disbursed to universities so that they can assist students who require financial aid. He also expressed his disappointment that NSFAS uses third-party agencies to process student allowances, which he believes should be completed with the assistance of Higher Education Institutions to save much-needed funds to support students. 

Boikgantsho Songo recounted a moving personal experience. "I find myself owing my landlord R20 000, as I am still awaiting my 2024 accommodation allowance from NSFAS, in the meantime I have had to look for means to make minimum payment as I'm on the verge of being evicted" . There are many more students across the country in worse conditions than myself, making it impossible to concentrate on our schoolwork owing to NSFAS inefficiency. Without the University of Pretoria's participation in delivering food packs to students, many would go to bed hungry. Precious Matovheke suggested that NSFAS allocate lodging allowance per locality, as accommodation rates vary across the country. Some locations are more expensive, leaving students responsible for any shortfall not covered by NSFAS, which is unjust because students cannot afford to fill the difference.

Realeboga Chidi, Katiso Kasane, and Basetsana Tsotetsi agreed that, despite its limitations, NSFAS has provided many worthy students with the opportunity to attend universities, which is laudable. While Bao Le emphasised that students must also keep their end of the bargain by maintaining strong academic performance so that taxpayers and the South African government may see a return on their investment in the NSFAS plan. Boris Mukwambo hopes that people who received NSFAS or TEFSA and are now employed and in a better financial situation be given a platform to donate or give back to future beneficiaries, as the existing allocation does not meet the growing demand for financial assistance.