Tensions were running high in Parliament’s Higher Education Committee during a meeting with Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande and student financial scheme aid, NSFAS.
EFF member of the Committee Mandla Shikwambana was almost removed from the virtual platform by Committee Chairperson Nompendulo Mkhatshwa. Sikwambana continued to insist that Nzimande should release a previous report into corruption at NSFAS before he can make a presentation.
The committee met with the Department and the fund which presented its turnaround strategy. This is what transpired as Shikwambana made his point.
“That report is still with the minister. The minister has never released that report. And today we are sitting here we coming to discuss the turnaround strategy of NSFAS. That turnaround strategies of NSFAS, where does it come from because it should be guided by the report which is in the hands of the minister and the minister does not want to release that report. So, what I am saying is that before the minister takes the platform because he ………….Interruptions…..because this meeting is going to be meaningless………point of order chairperson……I’m gonna have to mute you.”
Meanwhile, in response, Nzimande told the committee that he is not hiding any report into NSFA investigations.
“Nzimande: And Chair you are right, the Portfolio Committee needs to tell us ahead of time. Chair: Minister as you are coming to the Portfolio Committee, here are the things that we want and we also want you to circulate any report to us that we have not seen or which we do not know whether it was released publicly. Nzimande: And I’ll do that Chair without any hesitation. All that I do that we do that Chair without any hesitation. All that I don’t hide. And this government believes in transparency.”
