NSFAS: 2020 funding applications not affected amid staff strike

Staff members belonging to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu), have gone on strike over unpaid bonuses.

They have also complained about alleged maladministration and victimisation at the scheme. 

Negotiations between workers and management reached a dead-end last week.

NSFAS administrator, Randall Carolissen says they are up and running and that new applications for funding are coming through. 

“We have received almost 50 000 more applications than in the same period last year. We don’t foresee major disruptions for applications for 2020. Things might change, but at the moment no.”

“There is one union that is striking, the other union is not striking. So we have a number of staff which is still working.” 

He says employees were made aware of NSFAS's financial troubles after the previous management resigned.

"The previous management did not make any allowances for bonus payments this particular year. So, there was no budget allocated for bonus payments.”

“Having said that, also you must remember, the entities are under administration which means that things are gone so badly there that there can’t be any talks of any performance [bonuses]."

“But be that as it may, I have made some money available and I have offered them, out of fairness, R4 500 which is all a could get, they have rejected that, the want R12 500 and we just don't have the money" he said. 

Nehawu says no work will continue at the NSFAS offices until their demands are met

Nehawu is calling on the Minister of Higher Education to intervene.