Five SA Universities Report R5.08 Billion Student Debt
Gross student fee debt across five South African universities totals ZAR5.08 billion, according to their 2025 annual reports.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Five South African universities disclosed in their 2025 annual reports that gross student fee debt totals ZAR5.08 billion (US$307 million). Instability and mismanagement of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is cited as having worsened the problem.
Why it matters
Ballooning student debt is described as one of the biggest threats to the sustainability of top South African universities. All five institutions named NSFAS funding instability and growing student debt among their top concerns.
The figures come from the 2025 annual reports of five universities and represent gross fee debt, the nominal amount owed before uncollectable debt is accounted for. The extraction does not state how much of the ZAR5.08 billion is likely to be recovered.
The players
National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)
The NSFAS is South Africa's state-run bursary and loan scheme that funds students from low-income households at public universities and colleges.
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university in Cape Town and one of the best-known universities in South Africa.
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is a large public university in Pretoria and one of the country's leading research institutions.
The details
North-West University, the University of Cape Town, the University of Johannesburg, the University of Pretoria and the University of South Africa each highlighted student debt in their 2025 annual reports. The reports name growing debt and the NSFAS funding crisis among their leading concerns.
Timeline
2025: Five universities publish annual reports disclosing student debt and NSFAS concerns.
10 November 2026: Article reporting the university debt figures is published.
Financial Landscape
The debt figures sit within the funding framework of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, whose instability universities cite as a driver of rising fee arrears. The reports show that the strain is now visible across five major institutions at once.
Students who owe fees may face registration holds or restricted access to results and certificates until balances are cleared. Families relying on NSFAS support should check their funding status directly with their university's financial aid office.
The takeaway
Students with outstanding fees should contact their university's finance office early to discuss payment plans or funding options before debts accumulate.
Further reading
For broader context on how students fund their studies, see Financial Aid coverage for South Africa.
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