Good day

I hope my message on this platform will receive attention and bring hope to many others that are in my position. I have tried to contact the departments involved but it seems like everyone just turned a deaf ear.

I refuse to stay quiet and allow the departments involved to fail me and many others in my position. Nsfas, Unisa & Fundza Lushaka Bursary Scheme services is a total disgrace. Their truely not serving this country & are the reason many students just decide to give up on their studies.

Im a first year Bed student studying through Unisa. In 2012 I managed to pay for 3 modules and later couldnt afford to pay hence I stopped. Receiving funding was never an option because they eagerly look at your income but do not look at your expenditures and the amount you pay towards tax every month crippling one to self fund studies. In 2019 I applied for funding to continue my studies through Nsfas & Fundza. Nsfas income threshold changed in 2018 yet I was still denied because I was seen as a returning student and income exceeded non first time threshold. This resulted in my registeration with Unisa being cancelled and Fundza declining bursary as I was seen as not registered with Unisa. What a pathetic joke...

I applied for Nsfas funding again in 2020 which was approved with email confirmation received on 7 February 2020. After following up weeks later on allowance to purchase study material my application changed for successful to unsuccessful on Mynsfas without any notification. I submitted my appeal and all required documents before appeal closing date and to date I have received no response. I've sent numerous emails, made calls and even used other social media platforms to contact them without receiving any response. Fundza bursary was suppose to give feedback end of April. We approaching end of May, I submitted all assignments without any prescribe books and tried to do the best I can during this semester thats reaching its end. I am preparing for the up coming exam and yet no feedback from any departments involved.

What am I to do? I cannot afford to pay my outstanding fees. It seems like I earn to much for funding and too little to pay for studies myself. Has anyone considered or given tought to the missing middle? This is utterly unfair.

Please I beg of you to investigate this matter and assist not only me but many others like me. Nsfas application reference QA201910025696462

Regards