{"id":22431,"date":"2020-09-23T22:50:22","date_gmt":"2020-09-23T22:50:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gometa.co.za\/info\/?page_id=22431"},"modified":"2020-09-23T22:50:22","modified_gmt":"2020-09-23T22:50:22","slug":"is-it-safe-to-fly-saa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/is-it-safe-to-fly-saa\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it safe to fly SAA?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">HOW SAFE ARE SOUTH AFRICAN AIRLINES?<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"advads-atf\" style=\"margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 20px;\" id=\"advads-3071081424\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- Responsive ads atf -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"8381596201\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/div><p>South African Airways (SAA) is 16th on the list, sitting above the likes of Qatar Airways and Air France in the top 20. The only blot on its copybook is that it fails to meet two ICAO safety standards, but it still keeps hold of its seven-star status.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Kulula, Airlink and Mango also have the maximum safety rating, despite only clocking six of the eight criteria points set out by ICAO. Flying in South Africa seems to be a trouble-free pursuit. Well,\u00a0unless you have to make an emergency landing because you\u2019re too heavy to touch down.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">OW AN AIRLINE IS CLASSED AS \u201cSAFE\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>So to judge how safe an airline is, you have to consider the following five factors. Unless mentioned, all of these account for one star on a plane\u2019s safety rating:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>An IOSA certificate from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) \u2013 that\u2019s worth three stars.<\/li><li>The ability to travel to and from the EU, subject to their approval.<\/li><li>Being \u201cfatality free\u201d.<\/li><li>It needs to be meet most or all eight of the safety criteria set out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Adhering to five will get them half a star, whereas four or less means they get nothing.<\/li><li>If the country \u2013 rather than the airline \u2013 is allowed to fly in US airspace. For example, South African Airways has this star because South Africa has that permission. However, the same can\u2019t be said for all Thai airliners, as Thailand doesn\u2019t have the same allowance.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">THE LEAST SAFE AIRLINES IN THE WORLD<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re travelling through Nepal at any point, you\u2019re going to have to be very careful who you fly with. Two of their airlines \u2013 Buddha Air and Nepal Airlines \u2013 have a safety rating of just one star. Considering the maximum total is seven stars, that makes things even worse for the carriers. Both have also endured fatal crashes in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Afghanistan also doubles up on the danger: Both Kam Air and Ariana Afghan Airlines hold just a two-star rating. Although both pass the fatality-free and US airspace tests, they\u2019re still regarded as highly unsafe.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>As<em>\u00a0The National<\/em>\u00a0report, Kam Air suffered a major blow early last year\u00a0when up to 10 employees were killed in an attack on Kabul\u2019s Intercontinental hotel. About 40 of its pilots and aircrew, many of whom were foreigners, were staying in the hotel at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Airline PNG of Papua New Guinea and Blue Wings of Suriname also have a lowly two-star status. Their rating suffered a blow when both airliners saw high-profile fatal crashes further damage their reputations, in 2010 and 2011 respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Thailand\u2019s NOK Air and Air Asia fleets also languish on two-star status. They are joined by Iraqi Airlines, and two more Nepalese businesses: Yeti and Himalaya Airlines may have had no deaths to report, but&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.airlineratings.com\/safety-rating-tool\/\">airlineratings.com<\/a>&nbsp;still have them at the bottom of the pile for other various violations.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SAFEST AIRLINES IN THE WORLD<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>Okay, for nervous flyers, that couldn\u2019t have been very enjoyable. So\u2019s here is something a little more wholesome: The best airlines in the world have also been ranked, and they\u2019re a veritable who\u2019s who of the most recognisable names.<\/p><div class=\"advads-content\" id=\"advads-2659120643\"><div style=\"width: 300px; padding: 20px; margin: 0 auto; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: center; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">\r\n    <p style=\"font-size: 16px; margin: 0 0 10px;\">Need Information or Confused about Something ? <\/p>\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/onlineapplications.co.za\/ask\/\" style=\"display: inline-block; padding: 10px 20px; background-color: #007BFF; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 4px; transition: background-color 0.3s;\">Ask a Question<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><div class=\"advads-btf\" style=\"margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 20px;\" id=\"advads-1191568468\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- Responsive ads btf -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"5513273173\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Air New Zealand<\/li><li>Qantas<\/li><li>Singapore Airlines<\/li><li>Emirates<\/li><li>Royal Jordanian<\/li><li>Cathay Pacific<\/li><li>Virgin Atlantic<\/li><li>Etihad Airways<\/li><li>Air Canada<\/li><li>Swiss International Airlines<\/li><\/ol>\n<div class=\"advads-cpc\" id=\"advads-2185264854\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Sponsored Guide<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Complete Guide to NSFAS Online Loan Application for South African Students (2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you are a South African student looking to pursue higher education but are facing financial difficulties, the <strong>National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)<\/strong> is one of the most accessible funding options available. NSFAS provides financial aid in the form of <strong>bursaries and loans<\/strong> to qualifying students at public universities and TVET colleges in South Africa.<\/p>\n<p>This guide will walk you through <strong>everything you need to know about the NSFAS loan application process<\/strong>, from eligibility requirements to application steps and frequently asked questions.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udccc What is NSFAS?<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)<\/strong> is a government-funded financial aid scheme aimed at helping students from low- and middle-income households to access tertiary education without the burden of upfront fees.<\/p>\n<p>NSFAS <strong>offers both bursaries and income-contingent loans<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bursaries<\/strong>: For eligible students who meet academic and household income criteria (especially for TVET and university students).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Loans<\/strong>: For students who do not meet all bursary criteria or who are pursuing postgraduate qualifications not funded under bursary schemes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\u2705 Who Qualifies for an NSFAS Loan?<\/h2>\n<p>To qualify for an NSFAS loan (especially for postgraduate students or programs not funded under the bursary system), you must:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Be a <strong>South African citizen<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Be <strong>financially needy<\/strong>, with a household income of <strong>less than R350,000 per year<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Have a <strong>valid South African ID<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Be <strong>enrolled or accepted<\/strong> to study at a <strong>public university or TVET college<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Not be funded through another bursary program that covers all expenses.<\/li>\n<li>Maintain satisfactory <strong>academic progress<\/strong> (returning students).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcda Courses Funded by NSFAS<\/h2>\n<p>NSFAS primarily funds <strong>undergraduate qualifications<\/strong>, but certain <strong>postgraduate programs (e.g., PGCE, postgraduate diplomas in education, and professional courses like LLB)<\/strong> may be considered under the <strong>NSFAS loan scheme<\/strong>, not bursaries.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re studying:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Undergraduate degree or diploma<\/strong>: You are likely eligible for a full NSFAS bursary.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Postgraduate study<\/strong>: You may qualify for a loan, depending on the course and funding availability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcc4 Required Documents for NSFAS Application<\/h2>\n<p>When applying, make sure you have the following documents scanned and ready:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Certified copy of your South African ID or Smart Card<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Parent(s) or guardian(s) ID documents<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof of income<\/strong> (latest payslips, UIF, or affidavit if unemployed).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Consent Form<\/strong> signed by your parent(s)\/guardian(s) to allow NSFAS to verify income.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof of registration or acceptance at a public institution<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Academic transcripts<\/strong> (for continuing or postgraduate students).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udda5\ufe0f How to Apply for an NSFAS Loan Online<\/h2>\n<h3>Step-by-Step NSFAS Online Application Process (2025)<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Visit the NSFAS Website<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Go to: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za\/\">https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Create an Account<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Click on <strong>\u201cMyNSFAS\u201d<\/strong> and register your profile.<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019ll need a <strong>valid email address<\/strong> and <strong>South African cellphone number<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Choose a strong password and verify your account via email or SMS.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Login and Start the Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>After registration, log in to your <strong>MyNSFAS<\/strong> account.<\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>\u201cApply\u201d<\/strong> to begin a new application.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Fill in Your Personal Details<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Input your <strong>ID number<\/strong>, name, surname, and other details exactly as they appear on your ID.<\/li>\n<li>Provide <strong>household income information<\/strong> and living arrangements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Upload Required Documents<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Upload all supporting documents in <strong>PDF or JPEG format<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Each document must be clear and under the size limit specified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Submit Your Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Review your application for accuracy.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>\u201cSubmit\u201d<\/strong> and wait for a confirmation message.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Track Your Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Log in regularly to check your application status.<\/li>\n<li>You will be notified via SMS and email at each stage of the process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f Important NSFAS Dates (2025)<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Application Opening Date<\/strong>: September 1, 2025<\/li>\n<li><strong>Application Deadline<\/strong>: January 31, 2026<\/li>\n<li><strong>Appeals Period<\/strong>: February 2026 (if rejected)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Disbursement<\/strong>: After registration and approval<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Note: Dates are subject to change; always confirm on the official NSFAS website.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcb8 What Does the NSFAS Loan Cover?<\/h2>\n<p>NSFAS funding typically includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tuition fees<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Registration fees<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Accommodation (if living away from home)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Meals and transport<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Learning materials (e.g., textbooks)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For <strong>loans<\/strong>, repayment is only required <strong>once you start working and earn above a threshold<\/strong> (around R30,000 annually, but subject to change).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udd04 NSFAS Loan Repayment<\/h2>\n<p>Repayments are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Income-contingent<\/strong> \u2013 you only repay when you can afford to.<\/li>\n<li>Administered by <strong>DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interest-bearing<\/strong>, but interest rates are low and favorable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can also apply for a <strong>partial loan conversion to a bursary<\/strong> if you perform well academically.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udd01 How to Appeal a Rejected NSFAS Application<\/h2>\n<p>If your application is rejected, you may submit an appeal via your MyNSFAS portal:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Log into your MyNSFAS account.<\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>\u201cTrack Funding Progress\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>If rejected, click on <strong>\u201cSubmit Appeal\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Upload any missing or corrected documents.<\/li>\n<li>Provide a clear explanation or motivation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcf1 NSFAS Contact Information<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Website<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za\/\">https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Email<\/strong>: <a href=\"mailto:info@nsfas.org.za\">info@nsfas.org.za<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Toll-Free Number<\/strong>: 08000 67327 (Monday\u2013Friday, 8 AM\u20135 PM)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Twitter<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/myNSFAS\">@myNSFAS<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Facebook<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/myNSFAS\">NSFAS<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcdd Final Tips Before Applying<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Apply <strong>early<\/strong> to avoid system overload near the deadline.<\/li>\n<li>Use <strong>your own email and cellphone number<\/strong> (do not use someone else\u2019s).<\/li>\n<li>Double-check that all your documents are <strong>certified and legible<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Keep a <strong>copy of your submission confirmation<\/strong> for reference.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>By following this guide, you can confidently apply for NSFAS funding and move one step closer to achieving your academic and career dreams\u2014without the burden of immediate financial pressure.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>HOW SAFE ARE SOUTH AFRICAN AIRLINES? South African Airways (SAA) is 16th on the list, sitting above the likes of Qatar Airways and Air France in the top 20. The only blot on its copybook is that it fails to meet two ICAO safety standards, but it still keeps hold of its seven-star status. Kulula,\u2026 <span class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/is-it-safe-to-fly-saa\/\">Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-22431","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22431"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22431\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}