The Outbreak of Protests at DUT Campuses
Frustration boiled over into action at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in mid-March 2026, as thousands of students took to the streets across multiple campuses. What began as mounting complaints about unpaid allowances escalated into widespread demonstrations at key sites including Steve Biko, Ritson, ML Sultan, Indumiso, and the Midlands campus. Students, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, voiced their desperation after nearly two months without the financial support they rely on for basic survival. Protests involved marches, chants demanding accountability, and unfortunately, some instances of clashes with security personnel, leading to arrests and injuries, including a security guard who sustained serious harm.
The unrest highlighted the acute pressures faced by National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) beneficiaries, who depend on these funds for food, transport, rent, and learning materials. Videos circulating on social media captured chaotic scenes, amplifying calls for immediate intervention from university management and NSFAS administrators.
Understanding NSFAS: South Africa's Key Student Funding Mechanism
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government-initiated program designed to provide comprehensive financial assistance to eligible students from low-income households attending South Africa's public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. Established in 1991 post-apartheid, NSFAS covers tuition fees, accommodation, living expenses, and learning materials allowances, aiming to democratize access to higher education.
In 2026, NSFAS approved funding for over one million students, with a budget allocation of approximately R54.3 billion supporting around 744,000 poor and deserving learners. This includes first-time entrants (over 626,000) and continuing students. Allowances vary by institution and study level: for university students, living allowances can reach R16,500 annually, book allowances up to R6,000, and accommodation up to R45,000 depending on location. Despite its noble intent, systemic bottlenecks have repeatedly undermined its effectiveness.
A Detailed Timeline of the DUT NSFAS Crisis
The saga unfolded gradually but intensified rapidly:
- Early 2026: Academic year begins; surge in DUT registrations strains administrative capacity.
- February-March: Delays emerge due to banking verification issues; students report no payments for March allowances.
- March 17-18: DUT issues urgent notices about processing outstanding payments; over 200 students lack banking details.
- March 19 (Wednesday): Protests erupt across Durban and Midlands campuses; SRC meets finance teams demanding Thursday disbursements.
- March 19-20: DUT processes payments for 5,862 students (4,149 learning materials, 1,713 living allowances).
- Ongoing: ~700 students urged to update details by midday March 20 for March 24 batch.
This sequence underscores how administrative lags snowballed into campus-wide disruption, halting lectures and exam preparations.
Root Causes: Why Did Payments Stall?
Several interconnected factors contributed to the payment gridlock at DUT:
- Banking Verification Failures: Invalid bank details plagued submissions—mismatched ID/surname, incorrect account numbers, or missing branch codes affected hundreds.
- Registration Surge: DUT saw a sharp increase in NSFAS qualifiers, overwhelming the financial aid office's template submissions (4,569 sent to NSFAS).
- Communication Gaps: Inconsistent updates from DUT's finance and aid units fueled distrust; students emailed and met via Teams with little resolution.
- Systemic NSFAS Delays: Broader issues like application backlogs and prior-year mop-ups diverted resources.
These aren't isolated; similar verification hurdles have recurred annually, exacerbated by NSFAS's shift to direct payments in recent years amid corruption probes.
The Human Impact: Stories from Affected Students
Behind the headlines are real struggles. First-year student Aphelele Cele shared a harrowing account: "I come from a disadvantaged background. For almost two months, I didn’t have much to eat. My neighbours started offering me food because they could see I had lost a lot of weight." Others skipped meals, faced eviction threats, or juggled odd jobs, all while exams loomed.
Lindo Vilakazi echoed the sentiment: "We tried to communicate with them via emails and Teams meetings, but they did nothing to help us." The ripple effects extend to mental health strain, dropout risks, and eroded academic performance, disproportionately hitting rural and black students NSFAS targets.
For context, DUT enrolls about 33,000 students, many NSFAS-dependent, making such disruptions a threat to equity goals in South African higher education.The Mercury's coverage details these personal tolls vividly.
DUT's Swift Response and Path to Resolution
DUT management acted decisively post-protests. Communications manager Tiyani Mboweni stated: "Our priority is the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and the broader university community." By March 20, 5,862 allowances were disbursed, with apologies issued: "We apologise for the inconvenience and discomfort experienced by students and encourage calm as we work to ensure that the correct students are paid."
Remaining issues? Students must log into the portal to correct details. DUT committed staff assistance and AVS reports for transparency. Lectures resumed, signaling stabilization, though trust rebuilding remains key.
The SRC's Balancing Act: Advocacy Amid Condemnation
DUT's Student Representative Council (SRC), led by president Sihle Nkosi and secretary Samkelo Ngelo Ngubo, navigated a tightrope. They condemned "gratuitous acts of violence," urging: "We should do better even at our worst point of disagreement." Yet, they pushed aggressively—securing meetings, demanding Thursday payouts, and staff deployment for updates.
Under the Higher Education Act, SRCs hold statutory weight in student governance, amplifying their role in channeling grievances constructively.IOL reports highlight their pivotal intervention.
NSFAS in the Spotlight: 2026 Challenges Across South Africa
DUT isn't alone. Protests echoed at University of Pretoria, Wits, and others over top-up fees and delays. NSFAS's 2026 performance improved with early decisions, but execution falters: R3.6bn disbursed upfront, yet verification snags persist. Past scandals—corruption, CEO ousting—linger, with Finance Minister Godongwana questioning viability.
Stats reveal scale: Over 1.5 million applications; 60% from social grant homes. Budget pressures and admin costs (R700m controversy) strain delivery.
| Allowance Type | Annual Amount (University) |
|---|---|
| Living | R16,500 |
| Accommodation | Up to R45,000 |
| Learning Materials | R6,000 |
Implications for South African Higher Education
Such crises undermine NSFAS's transformative mandate, risking higher dropout rates (already ~30% nationally) and perpetuating inequality. Universities like DUT, with 33,000 students, face enrollment booms but admin shortfalls. Broader effects: disrupted learning, safety concerns, and politicized campuses.
Minister Buti Manamela's oversight emphasizes alignment with labor markets, yet execution gaps persist. Reforms like digital portals help, but human elements lag.
Proposed Solutions: Fixing the System Step-by-Step
Stakeholders propose actionable fixes:
- Preemptive Verification: Integrate banking checks during applications.
- Digital Upgrades: NSFAS portal enhancements for real-time tracking.
- Institutional Capacity: Train finance staff; allocate surge funding.
- Communication Protocols: Weekly updates, hotlines.
- Anti-Fraud Measures: Biometrics, audits to curb abuse.
DUT's model—rapid payouts post-protest—shows pressure works, but prevention is ideal. DHET's war rooms for 2026 signal commitment.
Lessons Learned and Advice for Students
Students: Update details promptly via my.nsfas.org.za; engage SRC early; budget wisely. Institutions: Proactive engagement averts escalation. For NSFAS qualifiers, knowing processes—application (April-Dec), provisional funding (Jan), final (post-reg)—empowers navigation.
Cultural context: In South Africa, where youth unemployment hovers at 45%, NSFAS is a lifeline; delays amplify vulnerabilities in townships feeding Durban's campuses.
Photo by Jamal Dawoodpoto on Unsplash
Future Outlook: Stability on the Horizon?
With March payments rolling and 2026 funding secured, optimism tempers caution. NSFAS's early decisions (pre-matric results) and R63bn disbursements bode well, but recurring issues demand sustained reform. For DUT and peers, investing in resilient systems ensures higher education fulfills its promise.The Post analysis calls for collaborative vigilance.
As South Africa's universities evolve amid TVET expansions and enrollment surges (980k+), addressing NSFAS hiccups is crucial for viksit bharat-like equity goals adapted locally.
