Opposition parties say repeated problems such as non-payment of student allowances and allegations of fraud within the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) are undermining students' well-being.
They say this also threatens the continued functioning of the country's higher education system. Stakeholders have reacted to the news that Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has disbanded the current NSFAS board.
Mr Nzimande said the intervention to dissolve the board was aimed at improving the organizational efficiency of NSFAS.
Mr Nzimande said his office needed to ensure NSFAS remained focused on its mission. For now, this is done by putting his NSFAS under control. He said political parties in Congress needed to react to this news and roll their heads.
“This follows the resignation of Mr Ernest Khoza as NSFAS Chairman and the dissolution of the NSFAS Board. In light of Mr Khoza's resignation and the dissolution of the NSFAS board, the DA is calling on Minister Nzimande to follow suit and resign with immediate effect. Minister Nzimande has repeatedly defended the board's decision. “There is no immunity from the board's actions,” said Chantel King of the DA's office.
“It's like chronic mismanagement, misappointment of service providers, and money just being lost while students don't receive their scholarships or tuition fees. And the whole thing is a mess. Power. “If there is anything that destabilizes South Africa as much as shortages, it is when NSFAS is unable to efficiently serve its more than one million dependent students,” says Freedom Front Plus' Wynand Boshoff. .
“We have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, so this board, in fact, the entire NSFAS, the board, the management has been toxic, rotten, but starting from the head is Blade Nzimande. . We still urge Mr Nzimande not to return to the sector,” said IFP's Sanele Zondo.
“ACDP is calling for a complete review of NSFAS following corruption allegations against Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande and NSFAS Chairman. It's part of a complete dysfunction,” says ACDP's Marie Sukers.
Mr Khoza was placed on leave following the publication of leaked audio implicating NSFAS board chair Ernest Khoza and Mr Nzimande in alleged corrupt dealings and kickbacks from NSFAS providers.
Both denied the charges.
Mr Khoza resigned shortly before the minister announced the dissolution of the board.
Mr Nzimande is expected to convene a meeting on Sunday to provide further details on the issue.
Video: ISFAP on dissolution of the NSFAS Board: