R14m faux pas is government system failure, charges NFP

The National Freedom Party (NFP) has called on government to take full responsibility for the R14.1 million “accidentally” deposited into the account of a Walter Sisulu University student and to stop shifting blame.

“We, yet again as a country, find ourselves in a panic mode because of government obsession with outsourcing essential services in this country. It was the case with Sassa-CPS and now this.

“What is of concern is the government remaining mum over the matter instead of taking responsibility for their role in all these crises. Government, through NSFAS, distances itself and places the blame entirely on the university,” said NFP spokesperson Sabelo Sigudu yesterday.

The NFP said government’s failure to ensure that all universities paid National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) beneficiaries through its own paymaster system led to this crisis. “We are opposed to her having to pay back a cent of the money as it was not of her own making that it landed up in her account in the first place.

“Those responsible for the error – government and its incompetent outsourcing partner appointed through the university under the minister’s watch – should pay,” said Sigudu.

The department of higher education and training said the error, allegedly made by a service provider at the university, occurred during a payment-run to 3 500 students supported by the NSFAS.