In an effort to empower young people and make access to higher education funding easier, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), in partnership with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), hosted a successful NSFAS Applications Drive at Thetha Secondary School in Orange Farm on 8 November.
The initiative formed part of the agencies’ national outreach programme to ensure that learners, particularly from underprivileged communities, receive direct support with their NSFAS applications ahead of the 2026 academic year.
Local community mobiliser and ANCYL Activist, Musa Shabangu, was instrumental in facilitating the drive in Greater Palestine Central Zone 1, Ward 4, under Jongumuzi Branch, ensuring that the event brought these essential services closer to the youth.
Musa Shabangu, told Orange Farm News: “Our goal was to make the process easier and more accessible. Many young people struggle with online systems or don’t have data access. By bringing the NSFAS team here, we have helped them take a big step toward their future. Education should never be a privilege – it’s a right.”
According to on-site organisers, the drive was a resounding success, with over 400 young applicants from various schools in and around Orange Farm receiving assistance to complete their funding applications. Preliminary feedback from the NSFAS system indicates that a significant number have already been approved for funding.
In addition to application support, the NSFAS team also donated five brand-new laptops to the top-performing learners at Thetha Secondary School in Drieziek 4 – a gesture aimed at encouraging academic excellence and improving digital access for learners.
Shabangu added: “This is what active leadership looks like. We serve the youth not for personal glory, but to uplift our communities and open doors for the next generation.”
The NYDA and NSFAS have been running similar outreach programmes across the country to promote access to tertiary funding and ensure no eligible student is left behind.
The Thetha Secondary event marks another step in the ongoing collaboration between youth leadership structures and government agencies to empower the youth of Orange Farm and beyond.
Images: Musa Shabangu
