NELFUND: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters in South Africa

When you hear NELFUND, South Africa’s national student funding body established to replace and improve upon NSFAS. Also known as the National Student Financial Aid Fund, it’s the main system helping young people from low-income families pay for university and TVET college. This isn’t just about grants and loans—it’s about breaking cycles of poverty by giving access to education that was once out of reach for most.

NELFUND doesn’t just hand out money. It tracks who gets aid, how it’s spent, and whether students actually finish their studies. That’s a big shift from the old NSFAS system, where money disappeared and dropout rates stayed high. NELFUND uses digital tools to manage applications, verify income, and monitor disbursements. It also works directly with universities and TVET colleges to make sure funds reach students on time. The goal? Less bureaucracy, fewer delays, and more graduates.

It’s not perfect. Some students still wait months for their allowances. Others get caught in red tape when their parents’ income changes. But NELFUND is trying. It’s expanding support to more TVET students, fixing payment errors, and working with banks to make sure money goes straight to student accounts. And unlike before, there’s real accountability—public reports, audits, and pressure from students themselves are pushing changes.

What you’ll find here are real stories and updates about how NELFUND affects people across South Africa. From a student in KwaZulu-Natal who got her first stipend after a year of waiting, to a TVET college in Limpopo that finally got its funding sorted, these posts show what’s working, what’s broken, and who’s fighting to fix it. This isn’t policy jargon. It’s about people trying to get an education in a system that’s still learning how to serve them.