Earlier this year, Blade Nzimande announced the allocation of R47.3 billion to NSFAS for the bursaries of almost 700,000 students!
With so many students relying on NSFAS vouchers, it’s essential that the process be as smooth and seamless as possible. But for many, it’s rife with questions about how to get hold of a voucher, when it expires, and where it can be redeemed.
We’ll be shedding light on all these queries and more in this article!
Starting with the basics, one of the most commonly searched questions is,
How Do I Get An NSFAS Cash Voucher?
Provided you are being funded by the NSFAS; you have two options for creating a cash voucher;
Cellphone
If your tool of choice is the cellphone, you’ll find the process quick, simple, and likely familiar.
Just open your phone app as you would if you were going to call someone and dial *134*176# instead. You’ll then receive a prompt to enter your password; use your NSFAS wallet password and send. In the next step, you’ll want to select the first option, the “Cash Voucher”“. You’ll then receive a voucher number, which you’ll need to use the voucher. Lastly, type in the amount you’d like the voucher to be worth, and click send to complete the process.
Browser
Your other option is to use an internet browser, like Google Chrome or Opera. If you believe this process is even quicker and simpler than the previous one, type https://celbux.appspot.com into the address bar and press enter. When you get to the website, log into your account using your cell number and password. Then select the “pay” option, fill in the amount, click “done”, and voila!
When Does an NSFAS Voucher Expire?
If you’re worried about your NSFAS voucher expiring, worry no more because it won’t! After you create one, you can use it at any time convenient.
What Happens When NSFAS Voucher Expires?
Although the vouchers don’t technically expire if you choose to withdraw any amount lower than the voucher’s value, the change will be returned to your NSFAS wallet for you to use at another point.
What is the Limit on an NSFAS Cash Voucher?
When you receive funding from the NSFAS, the money is yours to use at your discretion, but for the sake of safety and security, there’s a R1000 daily withdrawal limit placed on your wallet.
How Do I Convert My NSFAS Voucher To Cash?
Take your voucher number to a cashier at an NSFAS-supported store, request the amount you’d like to withdraw, and present your voucher number.
Can I Withdraw An NSFAS Voucher At Pick’nPay?
Yes, you can.
Where Can I Cash Out My NSFAS Voucher?
You can withdraw cash from your NSFAS wallet at any of the following stores:
Shoprite, Pick’nPay, Usave, Checkers, SPAR, Choppies, Boxer, Van Schaiks, Nando’s, Romans Pizza, McDonald’s, Burger King, Spur, Hungry Lion, Debonairs, Rocomamas, and John Dory’s
Is An NSFAS Voucher Reversible?
The answer is yes, it absolutely is! But you do need to use the browser option to reverse it.
How Do I Reverse An NSFAS Voucher?
Once again, you’ll need to go to https://celbux.appspot.com and use your phone number and password to log in. Select your voucher and click the reverse option. The money will then be returned to your NSFAS wallet.
Why Is My NSFAS Voucher Declining?
There are several reasons your voucher could be declining. The first is that at some point during the voucher creation process, things went skew, your finger slipped, you pressed the wrong button, you fluffed up your password, you know how it goes; the result is a security alert, and the voucher being declined.
If you’ve checked and double-checked and your process is all in order, the next thing to consider is the daily limit. If your voucher amount exceeds the daily limit, it may be declined. More likely, though, if this is the case, it will be declined at the store and not while you’re creating the voucher.
Why Is My NSFAS Voucher Declining At The Store?
Let’s say your process was perfect, you got the voucher number, and you’re ready to go, but when you get to the store and try to cash it out, the cashier tells you it’s been declined.
What now?
First off, check your NSFAS wallet to see whether the money is still there or shows up as being used.
If it says the money is still there, it is likely a processing problem or a withdrawal request exceeding the daily limit, so remember to ask for R1000 or less. If your wallet says the money has been withdrawn, the cashier may be trying to pocket the money while telling you it’s been declined; this is a very common complaint. But it could also be a processing problem. In either case, your best course of action is to approach a store manager to explain the situation and ask what can be done.
We trust that you’ve found a helpful answer or two in this article, where we hope to make the process a little more smooth and a little more seamless!
