OUTA calls for Nzimande’s head following the damning NSFAS report

Rights group, OUTA, wants the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Blade Nzimande, to step down following the damning report into irregular awarding of contracts at NSFAS.

On Wednesday, the financial aid scheme announced that there was a conflict of interest in the appointment of four Fintech service providers by CEO, Andile Nongogo.

The probe followed months of concerns and complaints by various sectors of society, including students, on the companies that have been tasked with implementing the eZaga payment system, which saw some funds allegedly disappear from student accounts.

OUTA Investigations Manager, Rudie Heyneke, says Nzimande has ignored the organisation’s tip off on the irregularities.

 

OUTA says the report into irregular awarding of contracts at NSFAS signifies an important win for accountability and transparency.

Heyneke says it also proves yet again how important the voices of civil society are and why there are blatant attacks on NGOs in an attempt to silence them.

 

NSFAS spokesperson, Slumezi Skosana, says they will not tire in their relentless fight against corruption at the institution.

He says the NFSAS CEO accused of handpicking the fintech companies has been given an opportunity to explain why his contract should not be terminated.

It is either Blade ignored the outcries of student organisations or he was covering his tracks on this NSFAS payment issue

• student could not get their full payment from NSFAS (some student received only R16)
• some service providers were newly registered
• some service… pic.twitter.com/jylXfO6enw

— ChrisExcelCatfish (@ChrisExcel102i) October 19, 2023

Students should be angrier about the dirty corruption scandal at NSFAS. There should be rolling protests for Blade Nzidmande’s resignation.

Workers should be angrier about the dirty corruption scandal at UIF. There should be rolling protests for Thulas Nxesi’s resignation.

— Mbekezeli (@MbekezeliMB) October 19, 2023

The forensic investigation into the National Skills Fund where there was corruption to the tune of R5billion was not made public. The Nsfas report into the alleged corruption of the CEO&others has not been made public. Sithule nje siyabuka!

— Bongekile Macupe (@BongeMacupe) October 19, 2023