SIU recovers R1.7bn for NSFAS from Higher Education

THE Special Investigating Unit has recovered R1.7 billion in unallocated NSFAS funds from universities, TVET colleges and unqualified students, bringing the total recovered amount to over R2bn.

- SIMON MAJADIBODU

This comes as NSFAS reports processing over 600000 funding applications for the upcoming academic year.

The SIU has also returned R1.7bn to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), recovered from universities, TVET colleges and students who did not qualify for funding.

The SIU said that the recovery came as the 2026 academic year got under way, with students registering at higher education institutions across the country.

The amount forms part of the more than R2bn the SIU has recovered to date from institutions of higher learning and unqualified former NSFAS beneficiaries.

“These unallocated funds represent financial resources that were designated for students who qualified for funding but later changed institutions or deregistered,” the SIU said.