The presidency has refuted media reports claiming that the National Treasury intervened and stopped President Jacob Zuma from announcing free education during the State of the Nation address in February this year.
Presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga says that while the thrust of the State of the Nation address was radical economic transformation, the president had appointed a commission of inquiry into higher education funding and was waiting at the time for the commission to conclude its business.
“At no stage did he plan to make any announcement that would undermine the work of the commission. The president has tasked the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Higher Education funding, headed by the minister in the presidency, and the presidential fiscal committee to process the Heher Commission report and advise him on how to respond to the content thereof. Any action going forward will result from careful consideration by relevant structures in government,” says Ngqulunga.
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