Page 29 - Transformation Report 2021

violence (GBV)-related incident/s mental health; understanding and coping with anxiety;
toxic relationships and mental health; and coping with
• 42 students needed support for mental or burnout. To enhance the relevance of our interventions,
physical abuse feedback channels were created to enable the collection
of baseline information and assessment of outcomes
• 76 students who were in a state of suicidal
associated with ESW interventions.
ideation
• 428 students with depressive symptoms ESW continued to maintain engagement via digital
• 354 students with stress-related issues platforms with our students regarding their career
construction/exploration, especially those considering
• 463 students with symptoms of anxiety
course changes. Employability modules are offered at
• 31 suicide attempts faculty/departments’ request, and in July, Interview skills
and job search skills were offered virtually on request. EWS
• 133 crisis interventions, and
also continued to engage learners with visual impairment
• Counsellors were involved in 13 hospitalisations and learners with other disabilities through the Career
and 2 post-hospitalisation support. Outreach Programme to assist them in making informed
career decisions. ESW contributed to the review of the
Psychosocial Interventions Provided to Individuals and electronic Career Workbook, which is distributed to grade
Group sessions in 2021: 11 and grade 12 learners, in collaboration with the World
A total number of 6 403 appointments and consultations of Work Exhibition team.
(including intakes and follow-up sessions) were conducted,
including 1 689 individual counselling clients and 79 group Individual counselling support sessions were provided on
sessions which reached 1 195 students. an ongoing basis to students for GBV-related matters.
ESW developed an online form for capturing GBV-related
Group interventions via Webinars and mask-to-mask client data. An electronic copy of the form is available via
sessions were conducted in response to the specific needs the following link: https://gsbv2021.questionpro.com.
and requests. Topics included mindfulness Mondays; In 2021, the 56 online GBV forms were completed and
healthy relationships; GBV themes; substance use and involved the following details:

NO. OF INDIVIDUAL GBV CLIENTS YEAR OF THE GBV INCIDENT STUDENT REGISTRATION STATUS

22 2021 Current Mandela University Student

9 Past year Whilst a Mandela University Student
25 Past Experiences Before being a Mandela University Student

9. Integrated Financial Aid, Scholarship and Bursary Administrative Processes, and
Systems

9.1 NSFAS – funding /process / administration
In 2021, there were 16 798 NSFAS-funded registered students. The University processed a record number of 7 688 student
concession applications, of which 6 809 were approved. These concessions resulted in an increase in outstanding student
debt, with the concession balance as of 31 October 2021 amounting to more than R91 million (see Table 10).

DESCRIPTION OUTSTANDING AMOUNT

Concession balance as of 31st October 2021 R 91 062 456

Current concessions as of 31st October 2021 R 54 850 559
Concessions roll over debt as of 30th October 2021 R 36 211 897

Of further concern is that students who have exceeded increase. The University is awaiting a response from NSFAS
the N+1 criterion will not receive NSFAS funding for 2022. regarding the appeals process for these students. Should
Currently, 974 students are likely to be affected, but this NSFAS refuse to fund this cohort, many of these students
may increase as some final year students may not pass will not have funding to complete their qualifications
the 2021 academic year. Based on current estimates, in 2022. This will create a significant credit and student
this translates to R26 251 654 per annum and is likely to throughput risk for the University.

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