Johannesburg – The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) says measures will be taken against landlords who discover “ghost students” during the verification process of unpaid rental payments and promote fraud.
The NSFA has revealed that no identified “ghost students” who have not provided funding are not registered with public universities or universities.
“This finding highlights the importance of the verification process, a critical step for NSFA in processing payments to accommodation providers,” the Student Financial Scheme said on Wednesday (March 26, 2025).
In a statement available to Bulrushes, NSFAS said it would investigate all accommodation providers who submitted false information to illegally benefit from legitimate NSFAS-funded student funds.
“While NSFA is committed to ensuring that funds are paid promptly, it is equally important that all claims are justified and maintain a strict verification process to ensure in accordance with established policies,” the statement said.
“We appreciate the challenges facing accommodation providers and strive to balance the needs of both students and accommodation, ensuring public accountability, while supporting compliance requirements in public funding payments.
“Recognizing that late payments is a permanent challenge, NSFAS is actively working to streamline the payment process.
“We are considering bill verification and payment procedures to identify opportunities for improvement.”
NSFAS said it understands the financial pressures that accommodation providers encounter, especially at the beginning of the year after the festive season.
“As a result, the scheme is looking for solutions to enhance the payment process.”
Regarding unpaid rental payments, NSFAS said it has committed to settling all legitimate claims.
“Therefore, we will appeal to the landlord with significant payments to ensure that students are not kicked out as the NSFA is committed to resolving all legitimate claims,” ​​the statement said.
“It is essential to consider the impact of evictions on both students and landlords, especially during these difficult times.
“At this point, NSFA is adhering to the payment date of April 4, 2025.
“But we are continuing to assess the internal processes and the circumstances surrounding payments.”
