NSFAS statement in response to the call for the resignation of Minister Nzimande and the NSFAS Chairperson of the Board
5 January 2024
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has noted with outrage a statement by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), calling for the resignation of the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Prof Blade Nzimande and the Chairperson of the NSFAS Board, Mr Ernest Khosa.
Subsequent to the statement, OUTA circulated a voice recording of a meeting in support of its statement.
The Chairperson of the NSFAS Board, Mr Ernest Khosa strongly dismiss with contempt this voice recording and insinuation that he has received money, meant for him, Minister Nzimande, the South Africa Communist Party (SACP) and other third parties.
The NSFAS Board notes the fight back by some unscrupulous individuals and organisations who are determined to defocus NSFAS from implementing the Werksmans Attorneys report recommendations. It is also interesting to note that the OUTA statement coincides with the NSFAS Board decision to start with the legal proceedings to terminate the contracts of the direct payment solution service providers.
The NSFAS Board would like to state that its immediate focus is to finalise its preparations for the successful beginning of the 2024 academic year.
While NSFAS respects the critical role played by civil society organisations, it is now apparent that OUTA is gradually drifting away from its claimed “high moral values”, and as an “impartial” organisation by perpetually venturing into politics, informed by the quest to influence the South African political landscape.
It is also a concerning trend that OUTA’s successive “investigative” reports are characterised by advocacy for business interest of some individuals and companies who might have unsuccessfully attempted to solicit business from NSFAS.
The NSFAS Board reaffirms its commitment to transformation and clean governance and will ensure that any activities that defeat the purpose of serving students from poor and working-class backgrounds are addressed decisively.
If OUTA was truthfully concerned about fighting corruption at NSFAS, it had the opportunity to engage NSFAS on its progress in dealing with corruption and malfeasance including the implementation of the recommendations of the Werksmans Attorneys report. It would have also been at these engagements that OUTA would have raised their concerns regarding the so-called recordings.
The NSFAS Board will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to further probe the recordings in circulation and all the reported instances of corruption and maladministration at NSFAS.
The NSFAS Board is grateful to all the individuals and organisations that are consistently supporting the effort of the scheme to fight corruption within and outside of its ranks. The Board calls for like-minded South Africans to join NSFAS in its fight against corruption and the capture of the scheme.
The NSFAS Board Chairperson will at an appropriate time take the public into confidence on the recordings in circulation and attempted threats on his life, by some unscrupulous individual following the implementation of the Werksmans Attorneys report and the fight against corruption within NSFAS.
Issued by National Student Financial Adi Scheme, 5 January 2024
