Cabinet approves R7bn extra for NSFAS amid heightened student protests Government will spend R42.1bn on the scheme this year - up from the budget of nearly R35bn in 2020, which was already more than the R32bn the year before 11 March 2021 - 14:53 On Thursday, acting minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced that the government had decided to allocate additional funding to NSFAS. File photo Image: Freddy Mavunda The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has been given the urgent go-ahead to release funds to first-time qualifying students so they can enrol for higher education. They were previously unable to do so due to funding shortfalls, guidelines and a decision by cabinet.