On Tuesday, 11 August 2026, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Yusuf Cassim, MP, will conduct an oversight visit to the Central University of Technology (CUT) Welkom Campus to assess reports of ongoing non-payment of student accommodation allowances by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
Deputy Minister Cassim first raised the CUT matter directly with NSFAS Administrator Prof. Hlengani Mathebula during a meeting held on 14 July 2026 in Cape Town. A subsequent NSFAS delegation visited the institution to assess the situation, after which a payment plan was agreed and communicated. However, it is now reported that only 369 of the 1 392 affected students have received their allowances to date.
During the CUT visit, the Deputy Minister will engage with management and students and will also conduct a campus walkabout.
The visit is particularly important ahead of NSFAS’s appearance before the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education in Parliament on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, where Deputy Minister Cassim will form part of the DHET ministerial delegation.
Members of the media are invited to attend the oversight visit as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Time: 13:00 – 14:30
Venue: Central University of Technology (CUT), Welkom Campus
Enquiries:
Sipho Stuurman
076 965 4880
Stuurman.S@dhet.gov.za
