---
title: "This week — discussions on NSFAS failures, women’s land struggles, and the impact of court decisions on human rights"
description: "The true cost of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme failures, a webinar on women’s land struggles in post-apartheid South Africa, and a musical event raising funds for students in need."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "CIVIL SOCIETY WATCH 26 AUGUST – 30 AUGUST"
author: "Takudzwa Pongweni"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/takudzwa-pongweni-intern/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-08-26-this-week-discussions-on-nsfas-failures-womens-land-struggles-and-the-impact-of-court-decisions-on-human-rights/"
published: "2024-08-26T13:10:04"
updated: "2024-08-26T13:10:07"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 874
---

# This week — discussions on NSFAS failures, women’s land struggles, and the impact of court decisions on human rights

> The true cost of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme failures,  a webinar on women’s land struggles in post-apartheid South Africa, and a musical event raising funds for students in need.

By Takudzwa Pongweni · Published 26 August 2024, 15:10 SAST · Updated 26 August 2024, 15:10 SAST

## Key points
- Legal eagles, youth advocates, and land reform warriors take centre stage in a week packed with webinars dissecting the true costs of systemic failures, women's land struggles, and human rights impacts, while a musical crescendo led by the indomitable Professor Thuli Madonsela aims to bridge the gap for student inclusion – tune in for a symphony of social justice movements.
- Monday, 26 August at 9am: Webinar on UN binding instrument for transnational corporations in Africa region with legal experts Obert Bore, Apollin Koagne, and Darlington Chidarara. Zoom details: ID 813 3502 2418, Passcode 288567.
- Tuesday, 27 August at 7pm: Youth Capital webinar on true cost of NSFAS failures. Register for the event.
- Wednesday, 28 August at 2pm: UWC webinar on women's land struggles in post-apartheid SA with Motlanalo Lebepe, Tshepo Fokane, and Nozi Sigwela as speakers. RSVP to attend.
- Thursday, 29 August from 2pm: SALC webinar on human rights cases impact titled "From Court to Action". Register for the event.

## Content

On **Monday, 26 August at 9am,**there will be a webinar on sub-regional training on the UN legally binding instrument for transnational corporations and other business enterprises in the Africa region.

Legal experts present will include Obert Bore, Apollin Koagne and Darlington Chidarara.

Zoom details:

ID: 813 3502 2418

Passcode: 288567

On **Tuesday, 27 August at 7pm,**Youth Capital will host a webinar on the true cost of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme failures.

“The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has a clear mission – to alleviate financial constraints for admission to post-school education and training for those who are academically qualified. However, NSFAS has been in the news for all the wrong reasons – from corruption and mismanagement of funds to late payments. We’re counting the true cost of the NSFAS saga on the lives of young people – from being forced to drop out of university, poor mental health and their futures,” reads the event description.

Register [here](https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_84D5nG5RQIyb0vbFDiUCXA?utm_source=social+media&utm_medium=zoom&utm_campaign=nsfaswebinar#/registration).

![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Poster-2-2.jpeg)

On**Wednesday, 28 August**at **2pm,** the University of the Western Cape in collaboration with the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies will host a webinar on women’s land struggles in post-apartheid South Africa.

“Many South Africans still face significant obstacles when it comes to gaining access to land in both rural and urban areas. This is despite the provisions in the Constitution that the state must take measures to enable citizens to gain access to land on an equitable basis, and secure and restore their land rights. Land inequality remains gendered, with women facing barriers and being the least to reap significant benefits from the land reform programme implemented in South Africa since 1994,” read the event description.

Speakers include, Motlanalo Lebepe – Director (Nkuzi Development Association), Tshepo Fokane – Acting National Coordinator (Alliance for Rural Democracy), and Nozi Sigwela – Researcher (Ndifuna Ukwazi).

RSVP [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZyrBcAqTLIOoUuvGFQCNvLiGGujS3p6N4EM8r8zFy9ZtKUQ/viewform).

Attend [here](https://uwc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_B2JGRiIDQSeZi6Y-_1BWMQ#/registration).

![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Poster-3-2.jpeg)

Also on **Wednesday**at **5.30pm,**there will be a book launch of Comrade & Commander: The Life and Times of Joe Modise at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

“The book’s editors, former anti-apartheid activist and minister for intelligence services Ronnie Kasrils, and Fidelis Hove, a principal at the human development practice Genesis Analytics, will be speaking at the event. Comrade & Commander shines a light on Modise and his legacy. A bus driver from Sophiatown, Gauteng, he became an anti-apartheid activist who helped found uMkhonto weSizwe, the military wing of the ANC. He later made history by becoming democratic South Africa’s first black minister of defence,” read the event description.

RSVP [here](https://jacana.evlink17.net/public/forms/h/mFIjvZ6okLyU4mBY/OTM5N2MxZGVmYjc1OTk5NTk3MDNkMzQyZGQ0OWYyMGNhMGMzMjljMg==).

![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/poster-4-1.jpeg)

On **Thursday, 29 August from 2pm**, the Southern African Litigation Centre will host a webinar on the impact of recent and ongoing human rights cases titled “From Court to Action”. “Join us as we unpack the impact of the recent court decisions and ongoing cases to analyse their impact on the human rights of LGTBQI+ persons and their broader impact on all human rights,” reads the event description.

Register [here](https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0oc-ygrjsjG9W8_TqY9Y6r_Rm2i6rQ1Cp5#/registration).

Also on **Thursday,**at **10pm,**the Networking HIV & Aids Community of Southern Africa will host a webinar on empowering teen parents.

Register [here](https://nacosa-org-za.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUscO2rrzgtH9HZwSuVo8llEAlGwL9DPb0t#/registration).

**Friday 30 August is**[**International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances**](https://www.un.org/en/observances/victims-enforced-disappearance)**.**

According to the [UN](https://www.un.org/en/observances/victims-enforced-disappearance) this day is observed because “enforced disappearance has frequently been used as a strategy to spread terror within society. The feeling of insecurity generated by this practice is not limited to the close relatives of the disappeared, but also affects their communities and society as a whole.

“Enforced disappearance has become a global problem and is not restricted to a specific region of the world. Once largely the product of military dictatorships, enforced disappearances can nowadays be perpetrated in complex situations of internal conflict, especially as a means of political repression of opponents. Of particular concern are:

- The ongoing harassment of human rights defenders, relatives of victims, witnesses and legal counsel dealing with cases of enforced disappearance.
- The use by states of counter-terrorist activities as an excuse for breaching their obligations.
- The still widespread impunity for enforced disappearance.”

![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Poster-5-2.jpeg)

Also on **Friday, 30 August, at 1pm**, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group is hosting a Facebook live discussion on “depression and dementia risk in women” with Dr Ryan Fuller, a psychiatrist.

Watch the live discussion [here](https://www.facebook.com/TheSADAG).

On**Saturday, 31 August**2024, there will be a music concert in support of #Action4Inclusion, led by esteemed advocate and social justice champion, Professor Thuli Madonsela.

“The #Action4Inclusion crowdfunding initiative is a key component of the Stellenbosch University’s Bridge the Gap annual fund, and a top priority for the university. It’s a crucial step towards ending student debt and unlocking students’ potential, enabling them to actively contribute to our country’s development.

+++++++++++

The #Action4Inclusion Palissander Concert marks the start of an ambitious initiative aimed at raising funds for students in need. Later this year, from 26 October to 8 November, Professor Madonsela will continue on the Pilgrimage of Hope, a 300km journey from Stellenbosch to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa. While fundraising to eradicate student debt, this trek will traverse mountains, farmlands, and beaches, fostering connections with diverse communities along the way,” reads the event description.

*Buy your tickets*[*here*](https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/Event.aspx?itemid=1551200552). ***DM***