Date : 03 October 2025
From : South African Medical Students Union (SAMSU)
Subject : SAMSU welcomes minister’s commitment to engage finance on NSFAS crisis, calls for urgent action on medical students’ funding gap
SAMSU WELCOMES MINISTER’S COMMITMENT TO ENGAGE FINANCE ON NSFAS
CRISIS, CALLS FOR URGENT ACTION ON MEDICAL STUDENTS’ FUNDING GAP
The South African Medical Students Union (SAMSU) welcomes the commitment by the
Minister of Higher Education and Training, Hon. Buti Manamela, to engage the Minister of
Finance to secure additional resources to address the dire state of the National Student
Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
This intervention comes at a time when many students have been approved for funding but
are not receiving their allowances, while medical and health sciences students remain funded
for only 10 months, despite an academic year that runs for 12 months.
SAMSU believes that the rights to education, health, safety, and security must be protected
by any means necessary. We firmly reject any impression that our call for January and
December allowances is not urgent. In medical training, where the degree runs for six years,
losing allowances for two months each year equates to a full year of funding lost. This is
equivalent to the plight of students who have been approved for funding but are not receiving
any support at all.
Our struggle on this matter has been ongoing since NSFAS began funding medicine. The
disparity leaves medical students vulnerable and contributes to the well-documented high
rates of depression linked to financial hardship. We cannot claim to be training healers while
compromising their very own health and well-being.
SAMSU will therefore continue to engage all relevant stakeholders — constructively and with
urgency — to ensure that this injustice is resolved. We remain committed to representing our
students, promoting their welfare, health, and academic excellence, and safeguarding the
future of our healthcare system. South Africa needs doctors, and this need must be matched
with fair and adequate support for medical students.
READ MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION FULL STATEMENT CLICK HERE
Issued by:
Ambrose Lekalakala
Secretary General
South African Medical Students Union (SAMSU)
For inquiries, please contact:
INQ: 060 836 870
