Johnathan Paoli
THE United Democratic Movement (UDM) has officially called for the resignation of the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Ndzimande, following the crisis surrounding the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in recent months.
UDM President, Bantu Holomisa commended the work done by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) in investigating both Nsfas, as well as allegations of corruption and maladministration in the Services Sector Education and Training Authorities (SSETA) since 2018.
Further, the OUTA report revealed that the four companies awarded the tender to handle the direct payment system for NSFAS were not registered as financial services providers.
Ezaga Holdings – held an affiliated banking licence with Access Bank. A banking licence or affiliation with a bank with a banking licence was a compulsory bid requirement. Two of the successful bidders, Norraco Corporation and Tenet Technology, were also not registered as VAT vendors when they submitted their tenders.
Holomisa further criticised the Hawks and Special Investigating Unit’s failure to respond to a report the UDM made to them in February this year concerning the R2 million NSFAS rental scandal.
Recently NSFAS CEO, Andile Nongogo was placed on special leave following the student payment controversies surrounding investigations of the four fintech companies, as well as other forms of corruption and maladministration within the scheme.
In addition, the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation came under scrutiny for their failure to properly investigate the problems within the NSFAS, the SSETA and the Department.
Holomisa compared the NSFAS issue to the Bosasa as a source of looted money for the government and expressed concern over the recent violence at the Walter Sisulu University calling onPresident Cyril Ramaphosa to dispatch a task team immediately.
Earlier this year, the EFF Student Command (EFFSC) North West similarly called for the resignation of Nzimande, following the SIU’s report that approximately R5.1 billion in NSFAS funds were improperly spent on funding students who did not qualify for financial assistance, which was revealed during a briefing to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
It was found that more than 40 000 students in 76 institutions of higher learning were funded regardless of their home income being more than R350 000 per annum.
“It is proof to our long-standing argument that there is deeply rooted maladministration and corruption in NSFAS, which prohibits the deserving students from poor backgrounds from accessing financial assistance from the scheme. This report further proves that we don’t have a competent minister in the Department of Higher Education and Training.
“We, therefore, call upon the President to release Minister Blade Nzimande from his duties and not keep him because of the unstable relationship between ANC, Cosatu and SACP,” EFFSC provincial secretary Senzo Hlazo said.
In March this year Wits University SRC president Aphiwe Mnyamana and National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) branch secretary Thabo Modise, called for the Education Minister’s resignation, for the failure to tackle the years-long issue of historic debt affecting tertiary students.
“Historic debt is a concern. Every year, we see institutions protesting. Hence as the SRC we say Blade Nzimande and Buti Manamela must resign because there is something wrong which they are doing,” Mnyamana said.
Despite the scandal and allegations, and multiple calls for his resignation, the Education Minister has come out to both chastise the violent protests as well as defend the NSFAS payment system.
“Violence will never justify or cannot be associated with any legitimate forms of protest and should be condemned by all, including student leaders,” Nzimande said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
