Agreement Mkhari 
By Joyce Dube
Students from Ekurhuleni West TVET College in Germiston, Gauteng, protested on 29 July 2025. They went to the streets, campuses, and used social media to talk about problems with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). They say NSFAS is not helping them enough and they want changes.
Many students say they don’t have places to stay, proper meals, or a monthly allowance. This makes their lives hard because most of them depend on NSFAS money to survive. Without accommodation, they have to rent rooms outside the college, which costs a lot and is not always safe. Some places also don’t have transport, and that makes them miss classes because they can’t afford taxis or buses.
Because of the protest, classes have stopped. This means students will fall behind in their schoolwork. Students say this is not just a problem for them, but also for their parents. When NSFAS doesn’t pay on time or pay enough, parents have to try and help. But some parents are not working and already have other children to take care of. This adds more stress to families.
Some students are so stressed that they drop out of college. They say they were told things would improve, but nothing has changed. One student said, “Most of us depend on NSFAS. Without it, we are stuck. Now it feels like they only help students with high marks, and that’s not fair. Everyone deserves a chance to get education. No one should drop out just because NSFAS didn’t pay.”
The students want NSFAS to improve. They are asking the government to fix the problems, pay students on time, and talk better with them. The strike is a way to ask for real change, so students can focus on learning without worrying about money.
