Ehlanzeni TVET youth resolves NSFAS issues via access to deputy minister's help desk
This formed part of the Gondwe's Youth Month Community Outreach Programme in partnership with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to support students on June 17.
Officials of the DM's Helpdesk addressed enquiries concerning higher education matters including NSFAS and delays in issuance of results, diplomas and certificates giving students a new leaf in obtaining the free and uncomplicated education they hope for.
'The programme aims to deliver higher education support services directly to students. It is important for us to be visible, responsive and impactful so that students can progress well,' Gondwe said.
ALSO READ: Deputy minister's visit prompts alliance for job creation for Ehlanzeni TVET College students
She established the helpdesk 2024, soon after assuming office as a deputy minister. She said she is pleased with the effectiveness of the helpdesk as it has handled a total of 27 658 queries and boasts a resolution rate of 89% . It can be reached via dmsdesk@dhet.gov.za.
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Daily Maverick
04-08-2025
- Daily Maverick
Meet the 31-year-old Sowetan who compiled Joburg's first digital heritage register
Johannesburg's first digital heritage register documents 90 sites, many of them unknown to the public. A dictionary and a 'useless' university degree turned a Soweto youth into a Joburg heritage expert. At 31, Kopano Monaheng has been a key player in the compilation of Joburg's first digital heritage register, launched on 25 July 2025 — a public tool that brings together decades of forgotten, buried and often deliberately erased history. Born and raised in Phiri and Meadowlands, Monaheng has been responsible for the identification, research, upgrading and restoration of several city heritage sites, and has also named 350 new streets in two informal settlements. His journey began with loss. His mother died when he was two. His father, who instilled in him a love of language through the family's only book, a dictionary, passed away when Monaheng was seven. His grandmother, a seamstress, raised him. 'I was just a boy in Phiri with nothing but curiosity,' he says. That curiosity led him to the local library, his sanctuary from Soweto's chaos. 'The environment in Soweto is always busy and noisy and I would escape to the library where I read everything I could. But it was that dictionary that started my love of words.' After being rejected twice by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Monaheng was accepted into the University of Johannesburg. He studied geography and anthropology, fields that many close to him dismissed at the time as giving him a 'useless' degree. 'Even I started to believe them,' he admits. After a long period of frustration because of unemployment, Monaheng managed to secure free training in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which led to an internship with the City of Johannesburg's arts, culture and heritage department. It was Eric Itzkin, the deputy director of immovable heritage, who immediately recognised his potential. 'There was no one else in the department who understood geography and locations the way I did. I applied for this job as I had equal interest in history, geography and anthropology. The three come together when it comes to planning and implementing heritage solutions. I really believe we have to maintain our history for everyone to understand where we come from,' said Monaheng. One of his interventions was advocating for the inclusion of the Eyethu Cinema in Mofolo, Soweto, once the only cinema for black audiences, in the heritage register. The cinema, opened in 1969, had decayed since its closure in the 1990s. Today, it has been reborn as the Eyethu Heritage Hall, a public cultural space. 'I used to see this old place and wonder about its history, so I started researching it and motivating for its inclusion into the register,' he said. He also helped document the St Xavier Catholic Church in Sophiatown, one of the only buildings to survive the forced removals under the Group Areas Act. 'It has a fascinating history and is still a very active Catholic church,' he said. The Kwa Mai Mai Market, a historically rich but under-appreciated space in the Joburg CBD, is close to his heart. Monaheng fought for its inclusion on the register. 'People and tourists tend to go there only for traditional food, but there is more to it. It is home to traditional medicine and healers, with a mixed informal economy, offering muti and herbal remedies, Zulu cultural artefacts, traditional dress and crafts, woodwork, and more, all sold and practiced by cultural entrepreneurs and traditional healers. So I'm hoping to expand tourism there,' he said. Another of his milestones was the Dr AB Xuma House in Sophiatown. Monaheng's research enabled its transformation into a museum, and he personally authored its blue heritage plaque. Names, memory and identity His expertise includes naming and renaming streets, which is often a controversial topic. In the informal settlement of Mnandini, Lawley, he helped to create 200 new street names and addresses through public consultation. In Tshepisong (near Roodepoort), he similarly facilitated the naming of 150 new street addresses. 'In both cases, the community was allowed to choose the new names. Some were African themed and others were named after local grasses and grasslands, given the proximity to wetlands.' He was also involved in the renaming of De Beer Street in Braamfontein to Mthokozisi Ntumba Street, honouring the student killed by the police during the 2021 #FeesMustFall protests. 'People always complain about wasting money, so I did walkabouts and garnered support. It will soon go through council for approval. I worked with Wits, local residents and businesses in the process. There was no cost, just community engagement,' he said. More controversial was the proposed renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive. 'We intended this to create unity, but politics got in the way. The public participation process got over 70,000 approvals compared to 30,000 objections, but this remains stalled due to political backlash.' Now, Monaheng, whose internship with the City has ended, is working with a private heritage conservation firm. He is hoping to develop heritage tourism routes — paths that aim to connect place, memory and identity. 'Our past lives are in the places around us. If we name them and mark them, we give them life again. Watch this space,' he smiled. Preserving Joburg's heritage Itzkin, who guided the development of the online heritage register, believes this is a crucial step toward democratising memory. 'Kopano identified and ran with projects for the new online heritage register, which brings a wealth of information on heritage buildings and sites spread across Joburg.' The register currently documents 90 sites, many of them unknown to the public. 'Joburg transformed from a mining camp to a metropolis in just a few generations,' said Itzkin. 'Despite its short recorded history, it is rich in drama, architectural evolution and political struggle.' Among the earliest stories in the register are pre-colonial Tswana communities, whose relics can still be found from Klipriviersburg to Melville Koppies, predating the gold rush of 1886. But too often, Joburg has chosen to erase rather than preserve. 'Many buildings, even relatively recent ones, have been demolished in the name of development. We've seen a city constantly rebuilt, often at the cost of its history. 'Heritage preservation in Joburg isn't just about old buildings,' Itzkin said. 'It's about memory and justice. The online register maps the journeys of figures like Nelson Mandela and MK Gandhi — and that of ordinary people, too.' 'They must be preserved for future generations and managed in line with best international practice and legal compliance.' The register was developed by the City's arts and culture team, in collaboration with historians and tour guides. It also provides the heritage status and protection levels for buildings that are more than 60 years old. 'Each site holds a unique story,' said Itzkin. 'And this register will keep growing to include more across the city. 'Joburg may be young by global standards, but its history is deep and dynamic. Much of the city's unique legacy is at risk of being lost, not to time, but to neglect.'
IOL News
26-06-2025
- IOL News
Frustrated students rally against NSFAS funding delays
A group of students from universities and TVET colleges marched to the Department of Higher Education and Training to protest delayed NSFAS funding and to express their grievances. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers A group of students from universities and TVET colleges took to the streets yesterday to express their frustrations over delayed funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), despite previous promises from the Department of Higher Education and Training and NSFAS to address the issues. Accompanied by activists and concerned citizens, students marched to the department's offices in Pretoria, expressing ongoing frustration over delayed funding. The march follows a similar protest last month by students at Tshwane University of Technology, who demanded that the department and NSFAS take immediate action to address delayed funding. Kemogelo Masike, national president of the South African Students Federation, said students staged the march due to their anger and frustration with the NSFAS and the department. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'We have written countless emails, memorandums of concerns to the Department of Higher Education and Training. We have also met personally with the executives at NSFAS. We have relayed our concerns but until today those issues are not resolved. Burning concerns pertain to defunding our students. Our students are defunded and many have been wrongfully discharged of their allowances. Many are evicted from their residences,' he said. He added that students are particularly infuriated by the prospect of incurring historic debt starting from the 2026 academic year. 'We propose that the Minister (Dr Nobuhle Nkabane) must at least allocate 50% of her budget to the tuition funds of these students so that, come the 2026 academic year, they are not affected,' he said. Vincent Makamu, former SRC president of the University of Limpopo, questioned the NSFAS's decision not to pay service providers, saying that the entity itself introduced the system. 'We have been demonstrating about these things for years now and they are just not ready to go and deliver what they want to deliver. Or maybe they are just not willing to deliver. We can't come today and do the fight that we did three years back. It means they are not competent themselves,' he said. Thivhudziwi Vele, chief director for programmes and qualifications for TVET, received the memorandum of demands and promised to respond, stating that a public acknowledgement would be issued confirming receipt of the document.
IOL News
25-06-2025
- IOL News
Students rally against NSFAS funding delays, highlighting financial hardships
A group of students from universities and TVET colleges marched to the Department of Higher Education and Training to protest delayed NSFAS funding and to express their grievances. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers A group of students from universities and TVET colleges took to the streets on Wednesday to express their frustrations over delayed funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), despite previous promises from the Department of Higher Education and Training and NSFAS to address the issues. Accompanied by activists and concerned citizens, students marched to the department's offices in Pretoria, expressing ongoing frustration over delayed funding. The march follows a similar protest last month by students at Tshwane University of Technology, who demanded that the department and NSFAS take immediate action to address delayed funding. Kemogelo Masike, national president of the South African Students Federation, said students staged the march due to their anger and frustration with the NSFAS and the department. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ He said students at universities and TVET colleges across the country are currently writing exams without receiving financial support from the government through NSFAS. 'We have written countless emails, memorandums of concerns to the Department of Higher Education and Training. We have also met personally with the executives at NSFAS. We have relayed our concerns but till today those issues are not resolved. Burning concerns pertain to defunding our students. Our students are defunded and many have been wrongfully discharged of their allowances. Many are evicted from their residences,' he said. He added that students are particularly infuriated by the prospect of incurring historic debt starting from the 2026 academic year. 'We propose that the Minister (Dr Nobuhle Nkabane) must at least allocate 50% of her budget to the tuition funds of these students so that, come the 2026 academic year, they are not affected,' he said. Vincent Makamu, former SRC president of the University of Limpopo, questioned the NSFAS's decision not to pay service providers, saying that the entity itself introduced the system. He emphasised that universities have been around for a long time, implying that this issue should have been resolved earlier. 'We have been demonstrating about these things for years now and they are just not ready to go and deliver what they want to deliver. Or maybe they are just not willing to deliver. We can't come today and do the fight that we did three years back. It means they are not competent themselves,' he said. Thivhudziwi Vele, chief director for programmes and qualifications for TVET, received the memorandum of demands and promised to respond, stating that a public acknowledgement would be issued confirming receipt of the document.
