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NSFAS releases 2022 funding lists for eligible students

NSFAS releases the 2022 funding lists for NSFAS eligible students

The NSFAS Board welcomes the commitment by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande to fund all qualifying students on the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) bursary scheme who have been admitted for funded programmes as public TVET colleges and universities in 2022.

For the 2022 applications cycle, NSFAS has received 906 429 applications. To be eligible for NSFAS funding – an applicant must be a South African citizen, come from a family with a combined annual household income of not more than R350 000 per annum (in the case of students with a disability the combined annual household income may not exceed R600 000 per annum). 30 % (276 748) of the applicants have received a real-time decision, when submitting an application via myNSFAS Portal.

The funding list, of NSFAS eligible students who intend furthering their studies in any of the 26 public universities and 50 TVET colleges, has been released to higher education institutions, effective today. The list contains names of students who qualify for the NSFAS funding, according to the NSFAS funding criteria.

All NSFAS eligible students, with a successful funding status, are advised to proceed to their respective institutions, where they have been admitted, to register for the 2022 academic year. Registration fee for NSFAS student has been waived, in line with the subsidised higher education policy. This means that no NSFAS funded student whose name appears on the funded list should be asked to pay registration.

NSFAS has put in a new process, that has been enhanced to manage the appeal process. Students who have not met academic eligibility criteria may lodge an appeal with NSFAS (noting that these appeals should no longer be directed to the institution).

Students/applicants can lodge appeals on myNSFAS Student Portal – www.nsfas.org.za(link is external). Appeals will open from tomorrow, February 03, 2022. Students wishing to appeal must upload all required supporting documentation to substantiate the reasons for appeal. Appeals should be submitted within 30 days of having been assessed as unsuccessful.

N.B. Appeals that are supported by an affidavit will not be accepted.

Source: Government of South Africa

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Police action in springbok leads to arrest of suspect with protected plants

NORTHERN CAPE – The Springbok Stock Theft and Endangered Species unit, Springbok Highway Patrol and Provincial SAPS Corporate Communication conducted a Vehicle Check Point (VCP) on the N14 between Pofadder and Springbok.

This police action led to the arrest a 35-year-old male suspect for illegal possession and transportation of protected plants.

The disruptive action was held on Tuesday, 1 February 2022 at about 23:00 and resulted in the confiscation of 5579 Conophytum plants. The suspect was traveling from Pofadder enroute to Springbok and allegedly tossed out a black bag with the protected plants from the vehicle before being flagged off the road by SAPS members.

He was arrested and will be appearing in the Springbok Magistrates’ Court soon.

The Acting District Commander for Namakwa, Col Schalk Andrews commended the team for their vigilance and determination in addressing the illegal poaching of protected plants.

SAPS will continue with the assistance and cooperation of external role players and the community, to protect the fauna and flora indigenous to the Namaqua area. End

Source: South African Police Service

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Suspects arrested for possession of suspected stolen property

KOMANI – On Monday evening, 31 January 2022, two males aged 26 and 52 were arrested by Queenstown Flying Squad members after they were found in possession of a large quantity of copper.

It is alleged that members from Queenstown Flying Squad were patrolling at about 23:00 in the Voortrekker locality of Komani, when they noticed a suspicious looking white Mahindra bakkie in the same vicinity.

The vehicle was stopped and searched, and copper wires and cables with a weight of 840 kg was discovered and seized. The estimated street value of the copper is about R168 000-00.

The suspects will appear before the Queenstown Magistrate Court tomorrow on the related charge.

The Acting District Commissioner, Brigadier Mabel Magqashela thanked the Flying Squad members for the arrests made and copper recovered and urged the community to continue to share information about any suspicious activities by contacting the Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or their nearest police station.

Source: South African Police Service

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Provincial Commissioner condemns reporting of false cases

NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has strongly condemned the reporting of false cases by the community as it waste state resources and money. The condemnation comes after the arrest of a 32-year-old man on Sunday, 30 January 2022 on allegations of deliberately fabricating a case of hijacking a day prior, Saturday, 29 January 2022.

According to police report, the suspect is said to have registered a carjacking case at Mhluzi Police Station. He then related his story to police, that on the said day around 20h30 he was traveling with three of his fellows, a man as well as two women when two suspects hijacked his vehicle, a Toyota Yaris, at Mhluzi.

Police at Mhluzi then mobilised their resources with the hope to bring those responsible to justice however in the tour of their probe they discovered lack of consistency in some of the information that he provided on his statement, which raised suspicions to the investigators. The investigation team then discovered that the man was involved in a car accident where a pedestrian was bumped, allegedly by his vehicle. It is said that some members of the public took the car keys from him. The man then went to inform police that he was hijacked. It was then realised that a hijacking incident did not take place on that day.

Police at Mhluzi then explained to him about this discrepancy and that his actions amount to a criminal offence hence his arrest and a charge of perjury laid against him.

The suspect appeared at the Middleburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 31 January 2022 and the matter was struck off from the court roll due to outstanding information required however the investigation continues.

The Provincial Commissioner also highlighted to the community the fact that opening false cases have a terrible impact in the fight against crime where limited resources and manpower that were supposed to have been channelled in areas where they were needed the most would then be misdirected and wasted.

Source: South African Police Service

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Community assistance sought by Kamesh detectives

GQEBERHA – SAPS Kamesh detectives are urgently trying to trace the next-of-kin of an unidentified man whose body was found on Tuesday, 7 September 2021 in Kariega.

The deceased (presumably in his late twenties) was found in bushes by a community member close to an open space next to North Street, Kariega. An inquest docket is under investigation. The deceased person was clad in a blue denim jacket, a pair of black shorts and is of medium built.

Kamesh detectives are appealing to anyone who can assist in identifying the deceased, or anyone who might be looking for a relative who may be missing to contact Detective Sergeant Ben Michaels on 084 399 8194 or the nearest police station.

Source: South African Police Service

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Murderer slapped with hefty sentence which has been welcomed by Provincial Commissioner

NELSPRUIT – A hefty sentence handed down to a 32-year-old man for murder has been welcomed by the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela. Moses Maseko was sentenced by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court which was sitting in Middleburg today, 01 February 2022.

The court reached its decision to sentence the accused after it was heard during the trial that on 19 February 2021 the accused committed robbery and stabbed a woman to death in a shack at Dullstroom. On the same day (19 February 2021), whilst he was taken in for questioning in relation to the murdered woman, he robbed a police officer of his service pistol while driving with him.

Immediately after the incident, police launched a manhunt for him and he was arrested following a shocking incident where a certain family in Dullstroom called police, informing them of an armed man found in their house. As police were driving to the scene, Maseko shot himself but he was taken to hospital where he received medical treatment. Police recovered the state firearm on the scene that day. He was arrested and charged accordingly where he was linked as well as charged for the woman’s murder, robbery incident where it is said that a businessman was robbed of undisclosed amount of cash at gunpoint on 26 February 2021.

The victim closed his tuckshop and took a walk in the street in Dullstroom when Maseko approached him where he held him hostage. The accused then robbed him of his money before he fled the scene. Maseko was further charged with unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition, house robbery with intention to steal and theft, as well as house robbery with intention unknown to the state hence he was trialled and on Friday, 28 January 2022 Maseko was convicted on the said charges hence his sentence as follows :

– On the count of murder, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

– On the count of robbery of a firearm, he was slapped with 5 years imprisonment.

– On the count of unlawful possession of firearm, the accused was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

– On the count of unlawful possession of ammunition, the accused was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

– On the count of house breaking with an intent to steal and theft, he was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment.

– On the count of house breaking with an intent unknown to the state, he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

The court decided that all the sentences will run concurrently with the life sentence, meanwhile he was declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has lauded the sterling work displayed by a team of Investigators, the Prosecution, as well as the Judiciary. “The public will sleep better knowing that the state has locked up one murderer behind bars for a very long time. We are hopeful that this sentence will encourage our communities to continue to support the efforts of fighting against crime by providing valuable information to authorities. ” concluded the General.

Source: South African Police Service