Some political parties in Parliament are calling for an urgent revision of the current system of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. This is in reaction to recent allegations of corruption at NSFAS.
Both Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande and the chairperson of the NSFAS board Ernest Khosa have denied allegations of receiving millions of rands in kickbacks from service providers contracted by the scheme.
ACDP Deputy President Wayne Thring says the administrative approach of NSFAS should be reconsidered.
“The ACDP calls for the complete overhaul of the administration of NSFAS. We call for the implementation of consequence management, and the rule of law via our fighting agencies such as SIU, NPA and SAPS. South Africans are tired of corruption which hurts the poor and marginalised amongst us. Should the investigations prove the allegations true, heads must roll?”
The ACDP in Parliament has welcomed the voluntary leave of absence taken by the Board Chairperson of the NSFAS Ernest Khosa.
Thring says Nzimande should follow Khosa’s lead.
Thring says, “It must be noted that NSFAS is responsible for handling more than R6 billion in handling students grants. And these allegations against Nzimande and Mr Khosa come shortly after the firing of former NSFAS CEO Andile Nongogo who irregularly awarded tenders to four companies. The hard pressed students of South Africa deserve better.
