By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Leaked voice recordings by a whistleblower and a report by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) have exposed the corruption and mismanagement at National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas).
The recordings have implicated the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande and the Nsfas Board chairman, Ernest Khosa.
Nzimande has rejected allegations contained in a leaked Outa report and further reassuring the public that he has never used his department recources to fund the South African Communist Party (SACP).
In a statement, “the minister views the allegations as reckless and based on gossip, are also intended to undermine the start to the 2024 academic year.”
“Furthermore given the damaging alleagtions on the report, the minister reserves the right to take legal action,” read the statement.
The Civil rights organisation has called for both Nzimande and Khoza’s immediate resignation, failing which, the organisation has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire both men with immediate effect.
“In support of this call, OUTA released voice recordings of two meetings between Khoza and a representative of a service provider which reveal how service providers allegedly paid millions of Rands in kickbacks to Nzimande and Khoza, as well as at least R1 million to the South African Communist Party (SACP).
This was done in return for tenders and protection for service providers.
The recordings and OUTA’s accompanying report are the latest bombshell exposing corruption and mismanagement at NSFAS.”
OUTA’s Investigations Manager, Rudie Heyneke said the recordings were leaked by a whistleblower, and documents two separate meetings that took place after the NSFAS Board resolved that CEO Andile Nongogo was to be placed on special leave.
Nsfas had denied all allegations by Outa and expressed outrage over the call to have Nzimande and Khosa resign.
“The chairperson of the Nsfas Board, Ernest Khosa strongly dismisses 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 funding scheme said.
Further in their response, Nsfas said it noted the fight back by some unscrupulous individuals and organisations who are determined to “defocus” Nsfas from implementing the Werksmans Attorneys report recommendations.
“It’s 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.”
Read the full report and listen to recordings here:OUTA’s report on the NSFAS recordings.