South Africa’s Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has demanded urgent steps after a Public Protector report found that about 40,000 students were improperly funded to the value of R5.1 billion (about $309 million).
Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie said the findings were “astronomical” and underscored persistent governance failures at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
“R5.1 billion is not a small amount and we cannot treat this matter as just another administrative failure,” Letsie said.
“These weaknesses have real consequences for students, particularly those from poor and vulnerable households who depend on NSFAS to access and remain in higher education.”
NSFAS is a government facility designed to support students from low-income and financially vulnerable households so that financial barriers do not prevent them from accessing and staying in education.
The Office of the Public Protector released the report following a Special Investigating Unit probe, which revealed that approximately 40,000 students across 76 institutions had been improperly funded, raising concerns about accountability and systemic weaknesses.
Letsie said students should not bear the consequences of governance disputes and boardroom squabbles.
“We have said repeatedly that NSFAS must put students first. Students cannot be left to suffer while those entrusted with the administration of the scheme are preoccupied with governance disputes.”
He urged the recently restored NSFAS board to act swiftly.
“It must strengthen governance, improve systems and ensure proper accountability for every rand entrusted to NSFAS. We cannot continue to have the same failures year after year.”
He said the board should process the Public Protector’s recommendations within 30 days and seek parliamentary approval before submitting its response.
JN/APA