R520-million partnership between Universities South Africa and Services SETA intended to be a lifeline for the missing middle has been met with administrative silence as Wits University leaves students in the dark.
- Wits University received R20 million of a R520 million national bursary allocation.
- Both USAf and the university financial aid have declined to clarify how the funds will be distributed.
- Eligible self-funded students lack information on how to access the aid despite the high-profile announcement.
A partnership between Universities South Africa (USAf) and Services SETA launched an ambitious R520 million bursary fund on 30 April 2026 aimed at funding 5 200 students up to R100 000 a year for three years, but details of how Wits students can access the institution’s allocated R20 million remain unavailable with university authorities refusing to divulge any information.
The R520 million was distributed equally across 26 public universities in South Africa, with each institution receiving R20 million to support up to 200 beneficiaries.
In a press statement, USAf stated that the bursary fund is open to first-time applicants who are South African citizens enrolled at a public university, with funding capped at R100 000 per year. USAf CEO Dr Phethiwe Matutu, linked the fund to the missing middle gap students whose household income exceeds the R350 000 NSFAS threshold, but who still face financial pressure. However, the missing middle at Wits University are finding that information is strictly private.
“I have a concern that we are singling out specific funding”, stated Amanda Kort, a representative of the Wits financial aid office. “This is an internal administrative process, and I do not believe that we should provide the information nor the interview.”
This wall of silence is mirrored at the national level. Gcina Nhleko, USAf manager for corporate communications and media inquiries, deferred responsibility to the campus. “We do not allocate funds to students as USAf, but universities do,” Nhleko said. “We have been requested to follow the university protocols, please liaise with your financial aid bureau.”
Ntsako Mngomezulu, a bachelor of science student majoring in geology and applied geology, who is a self-funded missing middle student, has not found any information on where to apply for the R100 000 bursary. She noted that while the funding would “unburden her the cap does not adjust to inflation in Johannesburg.”
Lethabo Leputu, a bachelor of arts in film and television student, echoes the information gap. “It is my first time hearing about this,” she said when asked about the bursary. Leputu is partially funded by the National Film and Video Foundation which covers her tuition, but she must still find money for accommodation: placing her squarely in the missing middle. While acknowledging the R100 000 would not cover everything, she sees real value in what it could cover. “I would really appreciate my residence fees being covered. That would alleviate the stress and anxiety that comes with seeing your fee statement,” she said.
The lack of transparency raises questions about accountability, especially as Services SETA acting CEO Sibusio Dhladla noted the organisation is currently under administration due to “governance failures.”
Services SETA had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication. For now, the R20 million earmarked for Wits remains a ghost in the system, leaving the students it was meant to support without a clear path to access the promised relief.
FEATURED IMAGE: Wits students protest against fee increase in 2016. Gap funding came as a solution from government to help students whose household income is less than R600 000. Photo: Wits Vuvuzela/File
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