Dear Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training,

I am writing this message with a very heavy heart. I have not succeeded in getting funding for my studies even after all the emails and follow ups I have made for the past few months. I am in need of your help.

my name is Dipto Kanyane and I am a student in the university of limpopo and I'm the oldest sibling with 2 brothers and 2 sisters.
I first started studying at the university in 2018 where I had encountered some serious family problems which ended with me not finishing my academic year and taking a gap year the next year(2019), not because I wanted to but because I could not register for an academic year. Therefore I tired my best this year to register again and give my best of effort to finish my degree.

I was never told that you have to apply again after taking a gap year because I had the knowledge that once you registered with nsfas there is no need for you to do it again. Despite that in 2019 I always logged in to my nsfas profile also tried to register again but had no luck. I am not pointing fingers but I just wanted you acknowledge the fact that I have lost two years of my academic years and this year will be the third if my fees are not paid and this is eating me deeply. This year I also tried to appeal for my funding but also found no luck because apparently I had to apply first.

This led me to doubt if I will get funding in 2021 but that's the least of my concerns. I am concerned about this year's fees because I did put in the effort to try to get funding but the pandemic hit before I could get help. Another of my concerns is that I was hoping to help my family get through these tough times of the Corona virus and the extension of the academic year because my family is poor. I am not asking anyone to register me into an institution or degree I do not qualify for. I am pleading with you to please help me get my registration data to nsfas or get another chance to appeal and give reasons and proof why I could not finish my academic year in the first place in 2018, so that I can get funding for my degree. My only flaw was that I was supposed to apply not register and I acknowledge that.

This pandemic has brought great depressions all over and losses of jobs. Please have a heart and help me with this serious issue I am having. My family is barely surviving from the government welfare support therefore I would appreciate a helping hand with/from the bursary offered by nsfas. A positive response will be highly appreciated. Thank you

Yours faithfully
Dipto Kanyane