Board backs new NSFAS oversight

The board and executives of the troubled National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) have backed the imminent appointment of an administrator to oversee its work as pressure mounts on CEO Steven Zwane to step down.

The multibillion-rand student funding scheme has been struggling to ensure the smooth rollout of free higher education. Delayed payments sparked protests at tertiary institutions earlier in 2018. About 75,000 students who have been granted funding for 2018 are still waiting to be allocated their funds.

On Thursday, student organisations, unhappy about the delay in the payment of allowances, warned of protests across higher education institutions, which will disrupt the academic programme.

The crisis is said to have prompted the resignation of board chair Sizwe Nxasana and another board member, Prof Themba Mosia. Subsequently, the department of higher education & training announced at the weekend that the entire board would soon be dissolved. The department said it was in the process of hiring an administrator who will take over the running of the organisation for a period yet to be determined.

Earlier this week, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union called on Zwane to step down by Thursday. But the CEO remained defiant and appeared before parliament’s oversight committee on higher education & training together with the board.