Kaya 959 Point of View with Phemelo Motene

Students Bet on Luck - and Lose - Using NSFAS Allowances

Loading player...
For some university students, government study grants meant to pay for food and books are instead funding a dangerous habit, online gambling. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is meant to support low-income students, but a growing number are using their allowances to place bets on digital platforms. The consequences have been devastating - leaving many young people broke, anxious, and on academic probation. According to the National Gambling Board, South Africans wagered a record-breaking R1.5 trillion last year, a 45% surge driven by easy access to online betting sites. Among the punters: cash-strapped students chasing a quick win, and instead, gambling away their futures. Phemelo speaks to Rise Mzansi MP, Makashule Gana.
27 Oct 2025 4PM English South Africa Education · Careers

Other recent episodes

What To Watch: The Polygamist, The Cry of Winnie Mandela

Looking for your next binge or theatre outing? This week, Leroy Marc reviews Netflix’s The Polygamist, the big-screen release Disclosure Day, and The Cry of Winnie Mandela, a moving stage adaptation showing at the Market Theatre’s John Kani Stage and much more.
18 Jun 4PM 18 min

EFF and ATM challenge Ramaphosa’s bid to halt impeachment inquiry

A fresh legal and political battle is brewing as the EFF and ATM move to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent court application to stop Parliament’s impeachment inquiry. The case sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown over whether the inquiry can proceed while Ramaphosa challenges the findings of the Independent…
18 Jun 4PM 9 min

Witness J to testify in secret as Madlanga Commission cites safety concerns

The spotlight remains on the Madlanga Commission after it ruled that key witness, Witness J, will testify behind closed doors. The decision, based on security concerns, comes as investigators probe the mysterious disappearance of a massive drug consignment from Hawks offices in 2021. Phemelo gets the latest from Kaya News…
18 Jun 4PM 7 min

Migrants not to blame for SA’s woes, says labour federation

As tensions around migration continue to rise, organised labour is pushing back against attempts to blame migrants for South Africa’s economic and social challenges. Trade unions say corruption, unemployment, poor governance and state failure are the real drivers of public frustration, warning that xenophobia risks distracting from the country’s deeper…
18 Jun 4PM 23 min

Bosa Announces Nobuntu Hlazo- Webster as it’s Joburg Mayoral Candidate

Build One South Africa (BOSA) Leader, Dr Mmusi Maimane MP, announced Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster MP as the party’s candidate for Mayor of Johannesburg. Nobuntu will lead BOSA's campaign to provide Johannesburg residents with principled and capable leadership focused on building a city that works.
17 Jun 4PM 10 min
All episodes