Over recent years, student demonstrations have became a norm in institutions of higher learning due to issues pertaining to National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) maladministration, unpaid fees, and student blocks.
However, it was in 2017 when the Department of Higher Education and Training Minister Dr. Blade Nzimande established the NSFAS board and appointed a CEO to better run the organisation.
NSFAS spokesperson, Slumezi Skosana has indicated that the government bursary scheme has since tremendously improved ever since.
In an interview, Skosana shared:
NSFAS has been implementing other measures to verify and authenticate student information through third parties.
According to the government bursary scheme, these third parties include the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Social Security Agency, and the South African Revenue Service.
South African Union of Students (SAUS) spokesperson, Asive Dlanjwa has applauded the use of third-party for checks and fewer cases of corruption being reported.
SAUS has been critical of NSFAS capabilities in the past few years, and Dlanjwa has also pointed out that there have been many issues of corruption as it pertains to NSFAS.
Transport & State Capture Portfolio Manager at the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, Rudie Heyneke said the organisation is glad the president signed a proclamation for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to look into the affairs of NSFAS.
In 2018, the anti-corruption advocacy organisation got whistleblower information on corruption in Services SETA, networks of people working together (public servants & service providers). This cost taxpayers R166 million for a similar service they are delivering at NSFAS, ie. distribution of student funds.
Here’s How Much The University of Johannesburg has Repaid NSFAS:
The university has repaid an amount of R311 million to the government bursary scheme. These were funds that had been unallocated and were meant for students who qualified between 2016 and 2021.
