Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, will brief the media on Monday at the Ronnie Mamoepa Media Centre in Pretoria regarding the state of readiness of universities and colleges for the 2026 academic year.
According to the department, the update will highlight preparations within the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector, including universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, and Community Education and Training (CET) colleges.
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“The briefing will take place as the department continues to implement a comprehensive overhaul of the PSET system aimed at expanding access, strengthening quality, and improving efficiency across the system, as recently announced by the Minister,” the department said.
2026 NSFAS Applications Officially Open
Manamela is also expected to announce the official launch of the 2026 National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) application process, which opened on September 15.
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The briefing will cover critical areas such as infrastructure development, student accommodation, institutional capacity, and access to financial aid.
However, challenges persist in the higher education sector, including late NSFAS allowance disbursements, inadequate student housing, poor infrastructure, and escalating student debt that leaves some graduates unable to access their qualifications.
NSFAS Faces R45 Billion Debt Collection Crisis
Recent figures revealed by NSFAS CEO Waseem Carrim show that the scheme is owed R45 billion in outstanding student loans, dating back to 2018 and earlier. The debt includes loans granted by NSFAS and its predecessor, the Tertiary Education Fund of South Africa (TEFSA).
“It has not had the best debt management strategy. But we cannot, as a board and management, continue to sit on that substantial amount of debt and not collect it,” Carrim admitted.
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He urged former beneficiaries who are now employed to begin repayments.
“We know that the majority of graduates in South Africa are employed. Therefore, our view is that students who took up loans, graduated as a result of the fund, and are now employed must repay their debt – not only to NSFAS but to society as well.”
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NSFAS board chairperson Karen Stander added:
“We are reminding them of their contractual obligation to repay once they earn more than R30,000 per year. Debtors earning above R30,000 per year who are not currently making the minimum repayments may have their accounts handed over to an external debt collector (EDC).”
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