More than 53,000 students have applied for NSFAS missing-middle loans in 2026, but only 3,102 have been assessed as eligible, with Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela acknowledging that too few applicants are progressing to actual funding.
Manamela revealed the figures in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday while responding to questions about government’s efforts to support students whose household income falls above the NSFAS bursary threshold but who cannot afford higher education.
African National Congress (ANC) MP Malesela Mokwele asked whether progress had been made in funding students from households earning more than R350,000 but less than R600,000 a year.
Manamela said government introduced the NSFAS loan scheme in 2024 to extend support to students in this income bracket.
MPs questioned Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela over delays in NSFAS missing-middle funding, as government acknowledged that eligible applicants were not being converted into loans quickly enough.
