The Ministry of Labour and Social Security in Eswatini has announced the release of student allowances for November 2025 and confirmed an extension of the online application deadline for SADC region scholarship applicants. The update addresses funding, system challenges and revised application timelines, offering clarity to current and prospective students under the Government Scholarship Programme.
The Ministry confirmed that allowances for students enrolled in local tertiary institutions were disbursed on 2 December 2025. These payments apply to all eligible students supported through the national scholarship scheme. Officials noted that the processing of outstanding payments remains ongoing. This includes invoices for continuing students and first year beneficiaries whose funds are still being reviewed. The Ministry explained that some delays relate to the network disruptions first reported on 30 October 2025. These outages continue to affect several government services, including systems responsible for processing scholarship payments.
According to the Ministry, the recurrent network interruptions have created bottlenecks within the payment workflow. Although technical teams have been working to address the issues, some student payments require additional processing time. Students have been encouraged to remain patient while the Ministry clears pending submissions. Continuous efforts are underway to stabilise system performance and restore full functionality across the affected platforms.
Alongside the update on allowances, the Ministry announced the extension of the online application deadline for students seeking placement in SADC region tertiary institutions, specifically in South Africa and Namibia. The deadline has been moved to 12 December 2025. This adjustment applies to new applicants pursuing opportunities outside Eswatini as well as students who have received admission at the University of Eswatini Mbabane Campus.
The Ministry explained that the decision to modify the deadline was influenced by the same network issues that disrupted payment processing. Since the scholarship online application system forms part of the services affected, applicants experienced difficulties accessing or completing their submissions. Extending the deadline offers additional time for students to finalise their applications once system stability improves.
Applicants are expected to submit their forms through the official scholarship portal at slas.gov.sz. The Ministry encouraged students to verify their details and complete all required sections to avoid delays in the assessment process. The extension is intended to support fairness and ensure equal opportunity for all eligible candidates who may have been hindered by technical challenges.
Collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology remains ongoing. Technical teams are working to address the persistent network issues and restore reliable service across government departments. Officials reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the scholarship system functions smoothly and delivers timely support to students.
The Ministry assured students that updates will continue to be shared as improvements progress. The Government remains committed to supporting access to higher education and ensuring that beneficiaries receive their allowances and application support within reasonable timelines.
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