The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has paid R1.3 billion in registration fees to universities on behalf of deserving students for the 2017 academic year.

NSFAS says 78 000 new students have been approved and they are expecting to fund over 450 000 students in total.

NSFAS spokesperson Kagisho Mamabolo says new students and those who were funded last year can register immediately.

“We are looking at funding roughly about 450 000 students this year. The number may change, the agreement with university is that all students that qualify for NSFAS that have secured space at university must be allowed to register without paying registration and provided they have registered and applied for NSFAS.”