The Free State Premier, Mxolisi Dukwana, says pending issues of bursaries that the former premiers Sisi Ntombela and Ace Magashule had issued have made it difficult for his office to receive a clean audit.
He was speaking during the Special Investigating Unit’s meeting the provincial officials on Wednesday.
The unit is investigating the provincial Health Health and Human Settlements departments as well as the Premier’s office for their allocation of the bursaries.
Dukwana says, “That also has been raised by the Auditor General for over a period of years now, and that has led to the office of the Premier not getting a clean audit, because of this outstanding matter. Despite the Auditor General providing an opportunity to the office to make sure that they are able to respond to all the things that are needed.”
Bursary programme
In May, some of the Free State students who were part of the provincial government’s bursary programme to study abroad feel government has failed them.
The frustrated graduates who completed their qualifications in China and have returned home are struggling to find employment.
Dukwana announced during his 2023/24 budget debate that they currently have 20 international bursary holders, studying in Portugal and at various universities in Turkey.
He said the initiatives form part of government’s contribution to the National Skills Development Plan, which seeks to ensure there’s the availability of adequate and appropriate skills that will contribute to the province’s growth and development.
VIDEO: Frustrated Free State graduates who studied in China struggling to find jobs:
