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National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) has noted with great concern the circulating media reports citing alleged corruption against Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande and National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). These reports come after Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) leaked a series of reports alleging there is corruption within the two institutions.

According to OUTA, Minister Nzimande and NSFAS Board Chair, Ernest Khosa received kickbacks amounting to millions of rands of funds that were meant for the sole purpose of assisting students from impoverished backgrounds with education funding. The report further alleges that the South African Communist Party (SACP), of which Nzimande is a chairperson, also received some of the corrupt funds. These allegations were the findings of an investigation by OUTA after they were approached by learners who advised that they had not received their stipends in months, some learners were unaware of any biometric devices that were used to record their attendance at training facilities or businesses as most roll calls were filled out manually by signing attendance registers. 

OUTA mentioned that they have in their possession recordings to back their claims of the said corruption. These are recordings of meetings between Khosa and a service provider with the evidence of the alleged corruption. The Minister has however denied the allegations of corruption levelled against him and is adamant that he is innocent of any wrongdoing.

NUPSAW believes that where there is smoke there is fire and that the Minister cannot be called out if there was no evidence backing that up. Furthermore, we are rather disturbed and appalled at how to this point, there has not been any investigations into the matter. This shows how the matter is not given any seriousness and not receiving any urgency. What is more disturbing is that this comes at the time when students across the country are busy applying for financial aid from the scheme with the hope of getting assistance.

We have also noticed that the Minister has not provided any concrete evidence to refute the allegations against him, and instead just denies them. The Minister is an Office Bearer who is answerable to the people of this country and should not forget the oath he took when he took up this important position. NUPSAW is therefore of the view that Minister Blade Nzimande be held accountable for the mess that has plagued the ministry of Higher Education. We therefore call for a full investigation into the allegations and that the Minister steps down pending the outcome of the investigations.

Issued by NUPSAW