Since the communique of yesterday, 31 July 2023, the NWU management has been working to get NSFAS and Norraco to resolve outstanding issues. These include the non-availability or very slow response time of the Norraco internet-based system, the non-issuing of NSFAS mastercards to students, as well as students approved for NSFAS funding, but not on the payment lists. The manager of the university’s bursary office physically went to the NSFAS offices in Cape Town to demand answers regarding outstanding issues and managed to resolve matters mostly regarding students’ data.
We managed to get hold of the Norraco-payment-file to allow us to reconcile that with the information NWU supplied to NSFAS and which NSFAS supplied to Norraco. We continue to follow-up with NSFAS regarding all identified discrepancies to ensure that they are corrected as a matter of urgency to allow due payments to be done. As at today, 1 August 2023, close to 21 500 students have been allocated their allowances, but access problems persist reportedly due to Norraco system unreliability or downtime. We are concerned that more than 1 000 NSFAS approved students have not yet onboarded the system and would not be able to access their allocated and available allowances. We appeal to these students to urgently complete the onboarding process or contact the relevant offices for assistance.
Students have raised grave concerns regarding Norraco’s exorbitant banking charges. This matter was raised with NSFAS, and the university was informed that it is non-negotiable; thus, the implementation of the current charges will continue. Students are encouraged to visit the NWU’s website - https://www.nwu.ac.za/nsfas-2023#progress - to learn all about the most effective way of handling their allowances to ensure the least costs.
Management will continue to liaise with NSFAS and Norraco to resolve the outstanding issues and to enable the full continuation of the academic programme and activities. Face-to-face classes will remain suspended until further notice, and staff who have arranged with their managers to work remotely must continue to do so.
In line with the university’s ethic of care, a Food Assistance Programme will be launched on each campus tomorrow, 2 August, to assist students who have not yet received their allowances or are onboarded but cannot access their allowances. Details regarding locations and times will be communicated soon.
We will update you of any developments tomorrow, 2 August 2023.
Thank you,
NWU Senior Management