
Minister of Higher education, science and technology, Dr Blade Nzimande has again reiterated that eliminating corruption and maladministration in NSFAS is a priority.
Placed under administration in August of 2018 when the scheme was on the brink of collapse, in a statement made in January 2020 it was revealed that five internal forensic investigations have been launched and four criminal cases have been opened, while a further 510 instances of alleged fraud have been handed to the Commercial Crimes Unit. It is significant that much of the fraud and corruption not only benefitted a few individuals but allowed external parties to gain inappropriate control over several institutions.
The administrator has outlined the positive rationale behind no longer distributing a specific book allowances, as this system excluded the freedom to choose where to buy – including from second-hand retailers. On the downside of issuing book vouchers, a bookseller was found to have conspired to allow students to exchange book vouchers for electronic goods like TVs and sound systems.
The Alliance for Academic Success has again written to the minister to outline the seriously deleterious consequences of the cash allowance for learning material. Not only have bookstores been seriously affected, but the entire development and distribution of undergraduate learning content is being compromised.
The Alliance restated their commitment to working with government and all stakeholders to ensure NSFAS students and higher education in general get support.