“It’s Uber Eats for a Week”: Students Hyped Over R5K NSFAS Allowance, SA Debates
- A video captured a moment of pure excitement as university students celebrated the alleged arrival of their NSFAS allowance for the second semester
- The humorous clip, shared on TikTok, showed the young people screaming and rushing to a field with their phones in hand
- Social media users responded with a mix of shock and amusement at the large sum of money, with many speculating on how the students would be spending their funds
- Briefly News spoke with Luhle Mgandela, a second-year student at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), to get his take on the viral video of students celebrating their NSFAS allowances
Source: TikTok
A hilarious video gave viewers a glimpse into a student's joy and excitement when there's money in their bank accounts.
The entertaining clip, shared on TikTok by @besleybae58, was met with a flood of comments and reactions from social media users.
The video features a group of students in their university residence. It shows them screaming and rushing to gather in what appears to be a field, carrying their phones and kneeling in the centre. In the clip, others in the corridors and on their room windows are also screaming in excitement, creating a massive wave of celebration.
A cause for celebration
The TikTok user's caption explains that the NSFAS allowance for the second semester has arrived, with students receiving a total of R5200. The video's timing, just at the beginning of the new semester, highlights the relief that many students feel upon receiving their allowances. The allowance is a lifeline for many students, helping them cover their accommodation, food, and other living expenses.
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Source: TikTok
The true meaning of the NSFAS allowance
The Briefly News team spoke with Luhle Mgandela, a second-year student at UJ, to get her perspective on a recent viral video showing students celebrating the arrival of their NSFAS funds. Luhle, who is not on the grant herself, offered her thoughts on the immense relief and reality behind the video.
We asked what her reaction was to seeing the video of the students celebrating their NSFAS allowance. She said:
"I saw the video, and it was beautiful, to be honest. I feel that it captured the relief that students feel when that money hits the account. It's not about shopping sprees or partying; it's about being able to eat, pay for transport, buy books, and just get by for the next few months. That scream and celebration is a moment of pure relief after months of struggling."
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We asked if she and some of her friends received the R5200 NSFAS funds, as mentioned in the video of the excited students. The student shared:
"I'm not on NSFAS myself, so I can't speak from personal experience, but I do have a lot of friends who are. They haven't mentioned anything about receiving funds yet. The allowance system can sometimes be unpredictable, so I'm not surprised that there might be delays or that the payments haven't gone through for everyone at the same time. I hope they receive their money soon, though."
We asked Luhle what some of the most common expenses students cover with their NSFAS allowance are. She responded:
"The main expenses are food. If you think about ot, R5200 is not a lot for a whole semester. It has to cover food for months, and other necessities like toiletries and data. Sometimes it even has to go towards books or printing, which can get expensive. It's a fund for survival."
Mzansi debates the NSFAS allowance clip
The clip gained massive views, likes, and comments from social media users who were shocked by the amount of money the students had received. Many speculated that the students would be spending the money on shopping and ordering takeaways for the whole week.
Some were curious to know which institution the students in the video were from, saying they had been checking their apps but had not received their allowances. Others, however, were sceptical that the clip was from this year. They suspected that it was from 2024, when students received a similar amount.
User @Langelihle Shange joked:
"It's Uber Eats for one week, four packets of noodles, iteku le Nike elithengwe ku what app (Nike sneakers bought on the app). Jean eyi sdudla pheliyane (a pair of jeans and then the R5.2K is finished)."
User @ewe.mos asked:
"Which Varsity is this, because my daughter was telling me that she's broke last night 🙄?"
User @Ngasure1 commented:
"The government needs to re-examine this funding. Firstly, I have discovered that my daughter is benefiting from NSFAS while I am affording her studies. I am working and have a business. I ensured that she cancelled it. Secondly, they also need to look at how it is utilised once it is received by students, because I have a hunch our tax money is not utilised correctly. It defeats the purpose of the grant."
User @Prof.com warned:
"Guys, don't celebrate like this, our parents will know that we're rich!"
User @Msp22 advised:
"That R5200 is for September, October and November. Nijabula mahala nizolamba ngoba nizoyidla yonke leyo mali (you're excited for nothing because you'll use all that money and struggle the rest of the other months)🤞😩. Add R1716 for those months, you will thank me later, so please save."
User @ND asked:
"This is a video from last year, right🥺😭?"
Watch the TikTok video below:
3 Briefly News articles about students
- A male student shared a video confidently preparing two French fries orders through his small catering business, which he runs at the university residence.
- A young student shared a candid video about her broken relationship with her father and stepmother, adding that he swore at her before telling her to get out of his life.
- A student mom walked to the stage to collect her academic qualification, holding her baby in her arms during her graduation.
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Source: Briefly News
