Ekurhuleni:Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Yusuf Cassim has expressed approval for the advancements made in addressing the outstanding Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA) bursary payments for 162 students at Ekurhuleni East TVET College.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Services SETA had allocated bursaries worth R15.6 million for 200 students at the college. After an internal screening process, 162 students were identified as qualifying for the bursaries. The remaining 33 applicants either did not meet the eligibility criteria or had incomplete documentation.
Out of the 162 students on the college's list, 145 were found fully compliant, and their tuition fees were processed in September. The remaining 17 students' cases are still being processed, with the college committing to complete this within a week. Additionally, R1.98 million in outstanding allowances was paid to 132 students in September following the Deputy Minister's intervention. However, 30 students are still facing issues due to banking or documentation problems, which the college aims to resolve by October 9, 2026.
Textbooks have been distributed to all Services SETA-funded students, but laptops are still pending. The college has expedited the procurement process and aims to deliver the laptops by mid-October. During an oversight visit to the Kwa-Thema Campus, Deputy Minister Cassim was briefed on these updates. Earlier, on September 3, 2026, he had engaged with Services SETA for a detailed update on bursary administration.
The Deputy Minister emphasized the urgency of addressing pending tuition payments, allowances, and the distribution of textbooks and laptops. He called for a reconciliation of beneficiary records and bursary expenditures at affected institutions.
Students with incomplete documentation may resubmit for reassessment, and further communication will be provided by the college and Services SETA on the process. Other issues discussed included delays in issuing National N-Diploma and National Certificate Vocational (NCV) Level 4 certificates. To address this, Deputy Minister Cassim, through the office of the Deputy Director-General for TVET colleges, will seek a report on these delays and a turnaround plan.
Deputy Minister Cassim thanked Services SETA for its investment in education and emphasized the importance of managing bursaries efficiently to prevent withdrawal of funding. He also commended the college management for their constructive approach in addressing these challenges.
