Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has appointed Professor Lourens van Staden as Acting Chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
This follows the decision by the current Chairperson Ernest Khosa to take a leave of absence following allegations that he and Nzimande received kickbacks from an NSFAS service provider.
Nzimande says Van Staden will also be tasked with expediting the appointment of the scheme’s new CEO.
Minister Blade Nzimande briefs the media on first phase of the student funding model:
Meanwhile, some political parties in parliament are calling for an urgent overhaul of the current NSFAS system. This is in response to recent allegations of corruption within the NSFAS.
Both Nzimande and Khosa have denied allegations of receiving millions of rands in kickbacks from service providers contracted by the scheme.
ACDP vice-president Wayne Thring says NSFAS’s administrative approach 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.
