The NSFAS strike has officially ended.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme(NSFAS) strike is officially over and qualifying students will receive their monthly allowances on time. This is according to NSFAS spokesperson Kagisho Mamabolo who confirmed that the week-long strike by National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) affiliated workers at NSFAS ended last Friday, February 23.
“The normal operations were affected but now workers are back at work, serving the South African public in the implementation of the new fee-free higher education policy,” Mamobolo said. He added that NSFAS has already made payments to institutions for the allowances of first-year and returning students who qualified for funding.
“We have sent out SMSes to students with details regarding these allowances,” he added.
Fourth-year BEd student Bakang Serapelo said the strike had caused him some panic. “I called NSFAS last week to do a follow up on my application, but I didn’t receive any response. I am glad the strike is over and I will receive answers to my enquiries,” he said.
Wits University Chief Financial Officer Prakash Desai said the NSFAS workers’ strike didn’t have any visible effects at the university. He said students would be paid their monthly allowances as usual without any delay.
NSFAS workers went on strike over a salary review, benefits, recognition agreements, and general human resource policies.
FEATURED PHOTO: NSFAS urge students to continue to use their online portal for any enquiries. Photo: Takalani Sioga.
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Wits Vuvuzela, https://witsvuvuzela.com/2016/08/05/nsfas-opens-direct-line-of-communication-with-students/, August 2016
