Komani Students Say Three Months Without Stipends Left Them in Debt

A group of 30 students enrolled in the Mixed Farming Production program in Queenstown say they have gone three months without stipend payments, leaving many in debt and unable to continue attending classes.

The program, funded by the National Skills Fund [NSF] and managed by the Independent Development Trust [IDT], is being delivered locally by ULwazi Training Development.

Students began the program in November 2025.

According to class representatives, they received payment for November and December only in January 2026. Since then, they have received no stipend for January, February, and March 2026.

“We are a group of 30 students dedicated youth who never give up easily,” the students wrote in a complaint letter.

“We came back to class as 27 students and we were there for 3 months without any payment but stories when we’re the ones calling.”

The students say communication with program administrators has been poor, with calls to facilitators often going unanswered.

They also report sending multiple emails to those involved, including Counselor Ms Bunu, without resolution.

A recent visit by Mr Soga from Enoch Mgijima and ULwazi representatives left students “more confused,” they said, after being told to focus on studies rather than stipends.

ULwazi Training Development’s Trevor Tshezi confirmed the payment delay, stating that the issue stems from a compliance problem between IDT and NSF.

“NSF normally pays 25% before the program commences,” Tshezi explained.
“For them to pay the next tranche, the funded entity must submit a report with proof of how the first tranche has been spent. When IDT submitted their reports, we are told that it didn’t satisfy NSF requirements.”

Tshezi said IDT has since resubmitted the report and is awaiting a response from NSF. He noted that ULwazi, as a third-party training provider, has also not been paid and cannot intervene directly.

“I think also IDT is not capacitated to manage such project. I heard that it is their first time running such a project with NSF,” Tshezi said.

“Municipality can’t intervene, infact no one can intervene because it’s a compliance issue.”

The students say the unpaid stipends have forced them into debt and led them to suspend attendance until the matter is resolved.

“We sincerely ask for an intervention so that we can get paid and before we are told to attend we need a meeting with all the stakeholders so we can have a way forward,” the class representatives wrote.

The Mixed Farming Production program forms part of a national project involving multiple training providers.

As of this week, students remain out of class pending payment. IDT had not provided a public timeline for when payments are expected to resume.

Attempts to reach IDT and NSF for comment were not immediately successful.