By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela appeared before the Higher Education Portfolio Committee on Friday, 29 May 2026, to explain his decision to place NSFAS under administration on 4 May.
Manamela appointed Professor Hlengani Mathebula as its new administrator.
The minister cited a series of board resignations, including those of former chairperson Dr Karen Stander, interim chairperson Dr Mugwena Maluleke, and Karabo Mohale, head of the human resources and organisational development committee, along with other members.
He told the committee that NSFAS faced nine material irregularities, including 822 deceased students receiving funds, 14,169 recipients exceeding income limits, and 7,805 unresolved appeals. He also cited a cybersecurity breach and board resignations, which resulted in the loss of a quorum.
Invoking Section 17A of the NSFAS Act, Manamela asserted his authority to appoint an administrator to stabilise the scheme.
The board is challenging Manamela in court for placing NSFAS under administration.
“I must indicate that this was not a political fight with the board, but it was a legal governance intervention which was intended to protect the NSFAS and students, “Manamela said.
Former board member Siyanda Mngadi said it was untrue that the board had not done anything on issues that had been raised in the directives.
Mngadi said they had responded with a comprehensive plan that covered a range of issues and approved several policies.
“The minister never responded,” he said about their submission made in April.
Another former board member, Richard Ramashia, said Manamela had at their meeting introduced one of the board members, Karabo Mohale, as deputy chairperson, whereas only the board could make the election for the position.
Ramashia said Manamela was concerned that the board was going ahead with the appointment of the CEO and instructed them to halt the appointment pending his instruction.
Manamela denied that he issued an instruction not to appoint a CEO, but confirmed that he made a mistake in referring to Mohale as the deputy chairperson.
“I had no intention of going into that meeting to instruct the board on who they should appoint for the position of the CEO. I was just concerned around the differences that the interim chairperson had spoken to in relation to the workings of the board,” said Manamela.
The board recommended Waseem Carrim be appointed as CEO with a salary package of R3.5-million. Other candidates included Professor Busani Ngcaweni and Lindiwe Kwele
Members of the Higher Education Committee raised serious concerns about how Manamela held a meeting with the dissolved board without prior notice and with no agenda.
He told the committee the meeting was simply to get an update on the board’s work and that he gave no illegal instructions.
Manamela was also asked to explain how NSFAS would deliver services better under administration and when students could expect full stability.
The DA’s Karabo Khakhau said Manamela was clumsy in placing the entity under administration.
“Your approach was clumsy. You had one job. Your job was to make an analysis of whether NSFAS in its then composition made sense; was delivering service delivery optimally; whether the leadership was desired, and by desired, not by your own political desirability, but desired in that they were able to do their job properly or not, and based on that, make an assessment of whether life continues or whether life changes,” said Khakhau.
While the minister defended his actions, the committee made it clear it will keep watching to make sure the fixes actually work and that no student is left behind.