JOHANNEBSURG - The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has vowed to clamp down on the growing problem of students using their allowances for online gambling.
NSFAS Acting CEO Waseem Carrim warned that the use of student allowances for gambling activities puts students' academic progress and financial stability at serious risk.
According to the funding scheme, some of the contributing factors include financial pressure, aggressive digital advertising, ease of online access, and targeted promotional offers.
"South Africa has a gambling problem. But unfortunately, it seems to have permeated into students as well," he said.
To deal with the matter, the National Gambling Board (NGB) and NSFAS have partnered to raise awareness at tertiary institutions. This is to protect students from gambling-related harm, and safeguarding the public funds allocated for education.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the NGB, Lungile Dukwana, said this partnership prioritises the protection of young people through harm reduction approaches that prevent the development of harmful gambling behaviours.