Student Financial Aid on the ball

Award winners: Star Student Financial Aid staffers include (from left, front) Sibusiso Ncengwa, Sindi Ntshongwana and Zahir Baker. (From left, middle) Adelaide Rooks, Patricia Jakavula, Nozibele Ntsimango, and Ethne Diedricks. (From left, back) Margie Jacobs, Rehana Effendi and Cebisa Bingwa.

Dedication and hard work at UCT's Department of Student Affairs' Student Financial Aid division has won the team two awards at the Annual National Student Financial Aid Scheme's (NSFAS) award ceremony in Stellenbosch.

The division scooped two silver awards for the 2008 academic year, the first for Best Higher Education Institution, and the second for the Most Improved Higher Education Institute.

The function was hosted jointly by Financial Aid Practitioners of South Africa (FAPSA) and NSFAS.

The NSFAS Selection Panel included PricewaterhouseCoopers who audit the funds allocation, awards and compliance by all the Higher Education Institutions in South Africa, including Further Education and Training Colleges.

Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Crain Soudien and Moonira Khan, the department's executive director, commended the team at a celebration.

Sindiswa Ntshongwana, director of Student Funding and Administration, said the accolades reflect the staff's steady compliance with NSFAS and the National Credit Act rules, requirements and deadlines.

"The awards recognise that we are on top of good governance principles," she said.

UCT has received about R55 million from NSFAS this year, in addition to the R60.5 million the university issued in bursaries and scholarships.

Student Financial Aid manager, Tasneem Salasa, added: "I'm proud my staff. They display the type of team work and work ethos that every manager desires."