Key Takeaways: The Funding Rule
- The Golden Rule: NSFAS ONLY funds the 50 Public TVET Colleges.
- The Trap: NSFAS does NOT fund private colleges (e.g., Damelin, Rosebank, City Varsity), even if they offer the same NATED courses.
- The Allowances: TVET students get specific allowances for Transport (if living <40km away) or Accommodation (if living >40km away).
- How to Check: If you cannot find your college name on the list below, you will have to pay your own fees.
It is January 2026. You are standing in a long queue outside a college in the CBD. The flyer says “Registered & Accredited.” You assume NSFAS will pay. You sign the contract.
Three months later, you are evicted because NSFAS rejected your application. Why? Because you registered at a Private College.
This is the most common mistake TVET students make. In South Africa, there are hundreds of private colleges, but only 50 Public Colleges. NSFAS is a government scheme, and it only funds government schools.
Below is the definitive, province-by-province list of the institutions where your NSFAS application will be valid for 2026.
1. Eastern Cape (8 Colleges)
The Eastern Cape has a high concentration of rural campuses. NSFAS transport allowances are critical here.
- Buffalo City TVET College (East London)
- Eastcape Midlands TVET College (Uitenhage / Gqeberha)
- Ikhala TVET College (Queenstown / Ezibeleni)
- Ingwe TVET College (Maluti / Mount Frere)
- King Hintsa TVET College (Butterworth)
- King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) TVET College (Mthatha)
- Lovedale TVET College (Alice / King William’s Town)
- Port Elizabeth (PE) TVET College (Gqeberha)
2. Free State (4 Colleges)
These colleges are heavily focused on Engineering and Mining due to the local economy.
- Flavius Mareka TVET College (Sasolburg)
- Goldfields TVET College (Welkom)
- Maluti TVET College (Phuthaditjhaba / QwaQwa)
- Motheo TVET College (Bloemfontein)
3. Gauteng (8 Colleges)
Gauteng colleges are massive and often overcrowded. Applications here close very early.
- Central Johannesburg TVET College (CJC) (Parktown / Alex)
- Ekurhuleni East TVET College (Springs / Benoni)
- Ekurhuleni West TVET College (Germiston / Kempton Park)
- Sedibeng TVET College (Vereeniging / Vanderbijlpark)
- South West Gauteng (SWGC) TVET College (Soweto / Roodepoort)
- Tshwane North TVET College (Pretoria North / Mamelodi)
- Tshwane South TVET College (Pretoria West / Centurion)
- Western TVET College (WestCol) (Randfontein / Krugersdorp)
4. KwaZulu-Natal (9 Colleges)
KZN has the highest number of TVET colleges in the country.
- Coastal KZN TVET College (Amanzimtoti / Umbumbulu)
- Elangeni TVET College (Pinetown / KwaMashu)
- Esayidi TVET College (Port Shepstone / Gamalakhe)
- Majuba TVET College (Newcastle)
- Mnambithi TVET College (Ladysmith)
- Mthashana TVET College (Vryheid / Nongoma)
- Thekwini TVET College (Durban / Asherville)
- Umfolozi TVET College (Richards Bay / Eshowe)
- Umgungundlovu TVET College (Pietermaritzburg)
5. Limpopo (7 Colleges)
- Capricorn TVET College (Polokwane)
- Lephalale TVET College (Lephalale / Ellisras)
- Letaba TVET College (Tzaneen)
- Mopani South East TVET College (Phalaborwa)
- Sekhukhune TVET College (Groblersdal)
- Vhembe TVET College (Thohoyandou / Makhado)
- Waterberg TVET College (Mokopane)
6. Mpumalanga (3 Colleges)
- Ehlanzeni TVET College (Mbombela / Nelspruit)
- Gert Sibande TVET College (Ermelo / Standerton)
- Nkangala TVET College (Witbank / Middelburg)
7. Northern Cape (2 Colleges)
- Northern Cape Urban TVET College (Kimberley)
- Northern Cape Rural TVET College (Upington / De Aar)
8. North West (3 Colleges)
- Orbit TVET College (Rustenburg / Brits)
- Taletso TVET College (Mafikeng)
- Vuselela TVET College (Klerksdorp / Potchefstroom)
9. Western Cape (6 Colleges)
- Boland TVET College (Stellenbosch / Paarl)
- College of Cape Town (City Bowl / Crawford)
- False Bay TVET College (Muizenberg / Khayelitsha)
- Northlink TVET College (Bellville / Tygerberg)
- South Cape TVET College (George / Mossel Bay)
- West Coast TVET College (Malmesbury / Vredenburg)
Important: How TVET Funding Works (Different to Varsity)
Funding at a TVET college works on Bursary Rules and Guidelines that are slightly different from universities.
1. Tuition is Paid Directly
NSFAS pays your class fees directly to the college. You never see this money.
2. The 40km Rule (Transport vs. Accommodation)
- If your home address is less than 40km from the campus: You get a Transport Allowance (paid to your bank account or e-wallet).
- If your home address is more than 40km from the campus: You qualify for Accommodation.
- College Res: Paid directly to the college.
- Private Accommodation: Paid to you/landlord (must be accredited).
3. Attendance is Compulsory
Unlike university where you can skip lectures, TVET funding is linked to attendance. If your attendance drops below 80%, the college can instruct NSFAS to stop your allowance payments.
FAQ: NSFAS & TVETs
Q: Does NSFAS fund N1 courses?
A: Yes, but only if it is part of a funded NATED pathway (N1–N6). NSFAS funds NCV (Level 2–4) and NATED (Report 191). They usually do not fund pure “Skills Courses” (like a 2-week bricklaying workshop) unless stated otherwise.
Q: I failed N3. Will NSFAS pay for N4?
A: No. You must pass your current level to get funding for the next level. If you fail, you pay for the repeat yourself. Once you pass, NSFAS resumes.
Q: Can I apply for NSFAS if I study part-time?
A: Generally, No. NSFAS prioritizes full-time students. Part-time or Distance Learning students usually have to pay their own way.
Summary: Check the Name
Before you pay a registration fee, look at the logo on the wall. Does it match one of the 50 names above?
- Private: “Damelin,” “Boston,” “Richfield,” “Rosebank,” “Jeppe College.” (NSFAS = No).
- Public: “Orbit,” “Majuba,” “False Bay,” “Capricorn.” (NSFAS = Yes).
Do not let a smooth-talking recruiter convince you otherwise.
Disclaimer: This list is based on the DHET 2026 Public TVET Register. Private colleges may offer valid courses, but they are not funded by NSFAS.