Johannesburg – The under-pressure National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has announced that private accommodation payments for universities have been released.
In a statement made available to The Bulrushes, NSFAS said the payments were released on Thursday, 7 May 2026.
The payments were made amid growing discontent among private student accommodation providers who complain of chronic delays, incomplete payments, and significant financial strain from NSFAS.
Correcting the anomaly, on Monday, 11 May 2026, the statement from NSFAS said: “Accommodation providers banking with First National Bank (FNB) receive funds immediately upon release, while providers with other banks may experience minor processing delays, subject to interbank processing timelines.
“During this quarter alone, NSFAS has made three major disbursements to accommodation providers, amounting to over R1.1 billion and benefitting more than 100 000 students.
“To date, 95% of accommodation providers listed on our solution partner portals have had their banking details successfully verified and are now included in direct payments for 2026.”
For the remaining providers, NSFAS said it was conducting one-on-one engagements to ensure full integration into the direct payment system.
NSFAS stated that it will issue a monthly disbursement schedule to all accredited accommodation providers, and we strongly encourage all providers to ensure that students’ funding status is confirmed and that valid, signed lease agreements are in place, as these are prerequisites for payment.
NSFAS said it was legally mandated to bring the payment functionality for accommodation providers in-house from the start of 2026.
This approach led to the resolution of several critical issues, including:
• Delays in institutions confirming students, which affected payment cycles, • Misclassification of students as transport-allowance recipients,
• Uncertainties regarding accommodation accreditation.
NSFAS recognises the operational pressures faced by accommodation providers, including rising utility costs and municipal challenges.
“As a result, the Scheme remains committed to working collaboratively with sector associations and solution partners to resolve these outstanding issues by finalising the 2026 rental rates and implementing a predictable, transparent payment system,” said NSFAS.
The student financial aid scheme said it remains committed to prompt, case-by-case resolution of all payment challenges, and we encourage accommodation providers experiencing difficulties to contact us directly for assistance.
“We thank all accommodation providers for their ongoing partnership and assure all stakeholders that NSFAS is focused on long-term stability, effective administration, and the well-being of NSFAS-funded students,” the statement said.
