The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has paid R222.7 million to six universities under the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme, benefiting nearly 3 000 students.
Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Yusuf Cassim confirmed the R222 688 894 payment during a meeting with senior NSFAS officials and the bursary team in Cape Town.
The institutions receiving funds comprise the Central University of Technology (CUT), North-West University (NWU), University of Fort Hare (UFH), University of Limpopo (UL), University of Pretoria (Tuks), and the University of South Africa (Unisa).
Benefiting 2 927 bursary recipients, the funds are now with the respective universities to process and disburse directly to affected students.
Cassim urged NSFAS to engage the institutions immediately to secure firm timelines on when students will receive their outstanding allowances.
“These payments must now reach students without delay so they can focus on their studies and not have to worry about outstanding allowances that have been pending for months.”
Funded by the Department of Basic Education, the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme provides financial support to students pursuing teaching qualifications at participating universities.
NSFAS serves as the programme’s disbursement agency, transferring approved funds directly to higher education institutions.
For the 2026 academic year, 23 universities received a combined R1.3 billion allocation covering tuition, accommodation, meals, learning materials, and living allowances.
Cassim’s intervention follows numerous complaints regarding delayed allowance disbursements submitted to his official helpdesk by affected students.
During the engagement, NSFAS officials provided an update on outstanding institutional claims across the country. Officials noted that a significant volume of university claims remains pending, with processing taking roughly four weeks to complete verification checks.
“Institutions must submit their claims on time to prevent further delays in students receiving their allowances.”
Claims totaling R295.9 million for 3 095 students were uploaded in August for processing during the September payment cycle.
However, more than R500 million in allocated funding remains unclaimed by higher education institutions.
Universities have until 13 September 2026 to submit their outstanding claims for inclusion in the upcoming October payment cycle.
Cassim directed NSFAS to write to institutions to confirm that beneficiaries will receive their allowances without interruption. The directive also requires institutions to confirm whether they will meet the submission deadline.
To address systemic bottlenecks, NSFAS proposed hosting a joint workshop with key stakeholders ahead of the 2027 academic year in November 2026.
The session will focus on automating manual tasks, enhancing student communication, and aligning payment timelines to prevent future allowance delays.
Journal News Network (JNN) has it on good authority that Danny Jordaan is projected to secure his fourth term as South African Football Association (SAFA) President through a landslide victory at the football body’s upcoming elective congress on 12 September 2026.
According to a high ranked source in the organisation, Jordaan has the backing of 36 of the 52 SAFA regions, while challenger, Sandile Zungu, commands support from just a mere 12 regions.
The decision to back Jordaan is said to be a calculated compromise to block external infiltration, with prominent figures within the football governing body viewing Zungu as a conduit for outside forces attempting to seize control of the organisation.
Having mulled his resignation for some time leading to the looming conference, the insider also revealed how Jordaan had intended to resign prior to the looming elective conference but was convinced otherwise by powerful SAFA stalwarts who refuse to surrender control to ‘outsiders’ - thus preferring structural continuity under the current regime.
“We couldn’t allow him to leave before the conference, because they are trying to get into SAFA and start their own things. We can’t allow that,” the source said.
The source further told this newspaper that Jordaan is standing for re-election merely to bar Zungu from taking over and will subsequently resign to make way for Linda Zwane - who is one of the four incumbent SAFA vice presidents - to ascend the presidential hotseat.
Zwane does indeed stand as the most logical internal successor due to his dual power base within local structures. He serves as president of the Mpumalanga Sport Confederation, board member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and leads the Football Transformation Forum (FTF).
Zwane’s deep ties across the 52 regional voting blocs therefore give him vast influence across various relevant local sports bodies. He also holds continental administrative authority through his executive roles on the boards of SASCOC and COSAFA.
Unlike other four SAFA vice presidents, Zwane faces no political or constitutional roadblocks in his path to the top seat.
For instance, Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza, is legally barred from the role unless he completely divests from professional club ownership.
SAFA Cape Town boss, Bennett Bailey, has isolated himself from the ruling faction after breaking ranks to publicly back Zungu’s campaign, while veteran football administrator, Natasha Tsichlas, has always kept her focus on specific administrative portfolios rather than command of the regional voter mobilisation machinery.
Zwane, in contrast to the potentials, is well entrenched within the broader South African sports fraternity and commands the grassroots machinery required to wield exceptional influence.
Having consistently linked national footballing milestones directly to Jordaan’s continued tenure at the helm, Zwane’s unwavering loyalty to Jordaan has functioned as a beneficial political insurance policy.
The elective outcome relies on 265 total votes cast by secret ballot during the national congress. The 52 regional bodies command the vast majority of voting power - holding 208 total votes combined.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) holds 41 individual votes, while associate members and the league cast the rest. Before undergoing strict governance vetting, the candidates must secure a formal regional nomination and a secondment, while the regions must maintain constitutional good standing regarding finances and deadlines to exercise their voting rights.
SAFA handed all candidate nominations to Governance Committee chairman, Victor Mogajane, on 5 August 2026 ahead of the upcoming vote.
By securing Jordaan’s re-election first, the ruling bloc guarantees that the loyalist machinery will seamlessly catapult Zwane to the helm.
SAFA has confirmed through a statement that key stakeholders including FIFA, CAF, SASCOC, and Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, have all been formally invited to the elective congress.
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⬇️ GET YOUR SOFT COPY NOW: JNN - LATEST EDITION - 04 SEPTEMBER 2026
As the Spring season approaches, South Africans are advised to exercise extreme caution and follow guidance issued by officials during this weather event.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) and SnowReportSA have issued a severe warning for expected winter weather, which is said to impact a majority of South Africa. Severe weather is expected between 2 and 6 September in high-lying areas, including the Eastern Cape, North West, Free State, and Lesotho.
This snowfall is expected to impact large parts of the country with a combination of cold fronts and low-pressure air impacting South Africa, causing low temperatures that bring heavy snow.
According to SAWS it is expected that snow will dramatically affect areas such as Gauteng, Western Cape, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga.
The weather service says these weather conditions and heavy snowfall may cause dangerous travel conditions, and areas near mountains such as Van Reenen's Pass in KwaZulu-Natal may enforce closures on the route due to possible landslides.
Community members arrived at the ANC’s Free State manifesto event in Grassland, Bloemfontein, on Sunday, voicing their grievances and demanding that their concerns be addressed.
The group, carrying placards with messages for the ANC, made their presence known as the manifesto programme was underway.
Their grievances centred on issues they want the ANC to address, with the demonstration highlighting growing concerns among some community members ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
The arrival of the group created a notable moment at the manifesto, where the ANC was presenting its plans and priorities to communities in the province.
One of the community members said they are not satisfied with several issues affecting their communities. Highlighting Maladministration and the selection process of councillors in different areas.
“We are here because our communities are not happy with several issues, but the main one currently is the selection process of councillors in different areas”, he said.
The demonstration comes as the ANC aims to present its vision and commitments to voters, while also engaging communities on issues affecting their daily lives.
Responding to the protest, Nonmvula Mokonyane, the ANC Deputy Secretary General, stated that distressed communities are going to be contacted to determine how best they can be assisted.
“The beauty of the ANC is that we didn’t chase them away; between today and tomorrow, communication is going to happen. We did not chase them away, but we listened to their grievances,” she said.
She stated that the protesters came to highlight their issues and not to protest against the rally.
“They came to highlight their issues, and they have been listened to, and there was no cop who stopped them because they are ordinary citizens of South Africa who must be listened to,” she added.
Despite the grievances raised during the event, the ANC said it was satisfied with the turnout and welcomed the community’s participation in listening to and celebrating the manifesto.
The glamour, heartbreak and triumph of pageantry took centre stage as Free State medical doctor Palesa Van Rooyen secured her place in the coveted Miss South Africa 2026 Top 19.
The Top 19 cohort was unveiled on the Miss South Africa YouTube channel by international television personality Minnie Dlamini, who dazzled in a classic black beaded gown by pageant sponsor Nala Privé.
While Van Rooyen celebrated her breakthrough, the latest cut brought disappointment for several hopefuls, including Top 24 finalist Gift Ntimini.
“Thank you so much, I would like to thank everyone who has supported me through my journey of Miss South Africa 2026. Unfortunately, I did not make it to Top 19, but I’ll forever be proud and grateful for making it to the Top 24,” Ntimini said in a farewell message to her supporters.
The difficult selection was overseen by an elite judging panel comprising businesswoman Dr Aisha Pandor, former Miss South Africa Shudufhadzo Musida and Colleen Larsen, with global auditing firm PwC independently auditing the process.
The remaining 19 contestants now turn their attention to developing social impact initiatives under the Empower Youth Africa (EYA) framework.
Van Rooyen is quickly emerging as a strong contender, combining her pageant ambitions with her medical profession and passion for community development. Splitting her time between Hobhouse, Ladybrand and Bethlehem, she is focusing on child safety and malnutrition, drawing on her medical expertise to address challenges facing vulnerable communities.
Her approach has impressed the judges.
“Our communities are richer for having an empathetic, caring doctor like you. You will ensure major impact through the work you do,” Larsen said.
Musida added: “Palesa is very thoughtful in her approach to her EYA. There is a genuine care in her ‘why’.”
Van Rooyen’s advocacy also extends to Bloemfontein, where her Beauty with a Purpose project focuses on paediatric healthcare gaps in underserved communities.
Her initiative recently reached an important milestone when her first group of “Nutrition Champions” completed their initial assessment.
“These young people have committed themselves to attending teaching sessions, studying, asking questions and applying themselves—all because they want to see THEIR community uplifted,” Van Rooyen said.
“I have been deeply moved by their commitment, their excitement and their eagerness to get into the field and start serving their community.”
With the competition now entering Bootcamp Week, the pressure is intensifying. Van Rooyen said she intends to embrace every opportunity to learn and grow.
“I hope to achieve with my time here to remain wide open to the process, to learn as much as I can and to take all the good gems away,” she said.
Bootcamp training has already included public speaking sessions with conversation strategist Nozipho Tshabalala, followed by media training with reporter Heidi Giokos. An upcoming workshop will be led by Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe.
With her medical expertise, community-focused advocacy and growing pageant momentum, Van Rooyen now has her sights firmly set on going all the way.
