Middelburg — More than 200 young people across Steve Tshwete Local Municipality (STLM) received vital assistance on 12 November 2025 with their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) applications. This was part of the municipality’s NSFAS Application Drive held at Adelaide Tambo Community Hall.
The initiative aims to help learners and out-of-school youth access tertiary funding for the upcoming academic year, particularly those who struggle with online applications or face poor internet connectivity.
Khanyisile Mlangeni, STLM Youth Manager, said the NSFAS Drive is part of the municipality’s ongoing youth empowerment and community service delivery initiatives.
“We hosted the NSFAS Drive to provide hands-on support and ensure eligible local students could access funding for higher education. This is part of our commitment to making education fashionable among the youth of Steve Tshwete,” said Mlangeni.
She added that many young people are often impatient when applying online and tend to leave applications incomplete. Others, particularly in remote areas such as Hendrina, Somaphepha Village and Doornkop, face additional challenges due to limited digital resources.
“As the Youth Manager, I would love to encourage all young people to invest in themselves because education is something no one can ever take away from you. I am also a beneficiary of NSFAS and I know how education empowers individuals with knowledge and skills, [which] lead to better job prospects,” she added.
The municipality worked closely with local youth centres and community structures to ensure that every eligible applicant received assistance. One of the beneficiaries, Siphesihle Nhlapho from Mhluzi Extension 2, said she is grateful for the opportunity to try again after an unsuccessful attempt last year due to missing documents.
“I wasn’t fully informed about the required documents last year. This time I got proper guidance, and I am thankful to the municipality for coming to help us. Not every municipality does this for their youth,” Nhlapho said. “If someone is there to help you succeed, don’t be afraid to come forward. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Another applicant, Sibusiso Nxumalo from Tokologo said, “I tried applying for NSFAS before but couldn’t complete the process. Many young people around here don’t have access to the internet. I’ll grab this opportunity with both hands and make sure my application goes through this year.”
