Abafundi abangaphezu kuka-93,000 base-University of South Africa (Unisa) babhekane nokuphazamiseka okukhulu ngoJulayi 2026 ngemuva kokubambezeleka kokuthola i-National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Personal Care Allowances yabo, izikhulu nabaholi babafundi bexwayisa ngokuthi lesi simo sisongela intuthuko yezemfundo kanye nenhlalakahle yalabo abathintekile. I-NSFAS iqinisekisile ukuthi izimali zidluliselwe e-Unisa ngomhlaka-2 Julayi 2026, kodwa ukucubungula izinkokhelo kwabambezeleka, isinyathelo esibangelwe yiphutha lohlelo yi-NSFAS futhi sabizwa ngokuthi umphumela wezinkinga ezinkulu zohlelo yi-Unisa.

Izincazelo Ezingqubuzanayo kanye Nomthelela Kubafundi

I-NSFAS ithe ukubambezeleka kubangelwa iphutha lobuchwepheshe e-Unisa, kodwa inyuvesi ikuphikisile lokhu obala, ithi izinselelo eziqhubekayo ezinhlelweni ze-NSFAS kanye nezinguquko zokuphatha kube yimbangela yokuphazamiseka okuphindaphindiwe. Esitatimendeni, i-NSFAS ithe, “Izibonelelo ezingakhokhelwa ziwumphumela wobunzima obuvela ekushintsheni kwabalingani bokukhokha ngqo kanye nokubuyiselwa kwalo msebenzi wokukhokha ku-NSFAS ngonyaka wezifundo ka-2024.” Kodwa-ke, i-Unisa igcizelela ukuthi izinkinga ezibanzi zesistimu kumele zixazululwe ukuqinisekisa ukukhokhwa kwemali okuthembekile.

Lokhu kuphazamiseka kwakamuva kulandela indlela yokubambezeleka, njengoba izinkulungwane zabafundi eDurban University of Technology (DUT) nazo zibhekene nobunzima bezezimali ngoFebhuwari 2026 ngenxa yokukhokha okulibazisekile. Umthelela ube yinto ebonakalayo: abafundi baye bahluleka ukukhokhela ukudla, ezokuthutha, kanye nezinto zokufunda ezibalulekile, indima yeNational Student Financial Aid Scheme ibalulekile ekwenzeni kube lula ukufinyelela okuqhubekayo emfundweni ephakeme kubafundi abahola kancane ezweni lonke.

Izingcingo Zokuzibophezela Nezixazululo Eziphuthumayo

Ukungenelela kongqongqoshe kwenzeke ngemuva kwamasonto amaningana obunzima, lapho iPhini likaNgqongqoshe Wezemfundo Ephakeme Nokuqeqesha liyala ukuthi wonke amacala asele abekwe phambili. Isishoshovu sezemfundo uHendrick Makaneta, ephawula ngomhlaka-18 Julayi 2026, wagcizelela, “Kwabafundi abayizinkulungwane, uxhaso lwe-NSFAS lunquma ukuthi bangaqhubeka yini bebhalisiwe futhi bahlangabezane nezindleko zabo zokuphila zansuku zonke. Ukubambezeleka kwalolu hlobo akuzona nje iziphambeko zokuphatha. Kunemiphumela yangempela esongela ikhono labafundi lokuqedela izifundo zabo.”

UMakaneta wengeze wathi, “Siyakwamukela ukungenelela kwePhini likaNgqongqoshe Wezemfundo Ephakeme Nokuqeqesha ekuqondiseni ukuthi amacala angakaphothulwa axazululwe ngokushesha. Kodwa-ke, ukungenelela ngemva kwezinyanga zokulibaziseka akususi ubunzima obuvele bubhekene nabafundi abathintekile.” Uhlobo olude lwezinkinga zokukhokha lubonakale ezigamekweni zangaphambilini, njengokuqaliswa kokukhokha okukhethekile kwabathole amakolishi e-TVET ngoMeyi 2025, okwakuphinde kwagcwala izinselele zobuchwepheshe.

Umkhakha wezemfundo ephakeme uyaqhubeka nokubhekana nezingxabano mayelana nomthwalo wemfanelo wokukhokha sekwephuzile, kuyilapho abafundi bethwele umthwalo omkhulu. Ukuxhumana okuqhubekayo phakathi kwamanyuvesi, i-NSFAS, kanye nohulumeni kuzobaluleka njengoba ingcindezi yokuxazulula unomphela ikhuphuka ngaphambi kokuba kukhishwe umjikelezo olandelayo wezibonelelo.