The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has appointed Ishmael Mnisi as the new Senior Manager of Corporate Communications and the financial aid schemes spokesperson. Mnisi has twenty-three years of experience in the communication industry with his most recent role serving as the spokesperson for Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande.
Mnisi's responsibilities will include managing public relations campaigns, implementing brand strategies and overseeing digital communication, content development and publications. They will also be responsible for media engagement, reputation management, community outreach, public education and internal communication.
NSFAS’ board has wished Mnisi well as he assumes his new responsibilities. They anticipate that Mnisi’s wealth of experience will assist in approving NSFAS’ relationships with stakeholders including students, the higher education department and organised labour.
Mr Mnisi will be further bringing to this position his organisational ability, administrative talent and communication prowess to the NSFAS team.
NSFAS 2024 Applications
Mnisi will have to hit the ground running as NSFAS finally released 2024 application dates. NSFAS funds more than one million students enrolled in approved courses at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and universities.
NSFAS-funded students receive comprehensive bursaries to cover all expenses during a student's tertiary education. This government scheme includes funds for tuition, registration fees and various allowances.
These allowances encompass accommodation, meals, stationery, and transport. Specifically, students living at home receive a transport allowance instead of accommodation, and those in catered accommodation do not receive a meal allowance.
The 2024 NSFAS application period opened later than usual as the financial aid scheme wanted for the completion of the SARS tax period. This will allow NSFAS to access necessary and updated information submitted by applicants.
To qualify for NSFAS, applicants must be South African, enrolled in an approved course and not exceed the household income threshold.
Applicants may not have a household income exceeding R350,000 while disabled students may not have a household income that exceeds R600,000. The latest data from SARS will help NSFAS verify if applicants meet the household income threshold.
Students will have until 31 January 2024 to submit a NSFAS online application. This means that students will have just over two months to submit applications for the lucrative bursaries.
