The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that a student received a payment of R630,434.44 from the organisation, describing the allegation as “false and misleading”.
In a statement issued on 16 March, the South African student finance body said preliminary investigations revealed the image being shared online was manipulated and appeared to be artificially generated, with no corresponding legitimate transaction in their records.
NSFAS suggested the fabricated content was created by a student seeking to boost their social media presence, likely as part of “content creation opportunities” on various platforms.
The organisation emphasised that it does not make large lump-sum payments directly to students. Instead, funding allocations are transferred to universities, which then distribute approved student allowances according to established guidelines under strict financial oversight.
“We want to assure students, institutions, and the public that NSFAS systems remain secure and there has been no irregular payment or breach associated with this claim.”
The agency has warned it takes the creation and circulation of false information seriously and “reserves the right to pursue appropriate legal action against individuals who deliberately create or distribute misinformation that harms the reputation and integrity of the Scheme.”
Members of the public have been urged to rely only on official NSFAS communication channels for verified information.
For further information, visit their official NSFAS website.
