Forensic investigation report into NSF expected in June - Nzimande

HIGHER Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has indicated that he will receive a forensic investigation report into the finances of the National Skills Fund (NSF) next month.

Speaking during the mini-budget debate, Nzimane said his department was determined to deal with instances of maladministration and corruption at the NSF.

“I have appointed a forensic company to conduct a full-scale forensic investigation into financial affairs of the NSF after an amount of just under R5 billion could not be properly accounted for over two financial years.

“I appointed a Ministerial Task Team (MTT) to conduct a strategic review of the NSF, the general operations of the NSF, its efficiency and relevance with regards to the national skills priorities of the country,” he said.

Nzimande said the interventions would ensure the NSF accounted for the resources allocated to it.

“A final report will be submitted to me by June this year.”

The forensic investigation was at the insistence of the standing committee on public accounts after it received a briefing on the annual performance plan and finances of the NSF in May 2021. The entity had obtained a disclaimer of audit opinion in the 201920 financial year.

The audit report could not determine whether any adjustment was necessary to the skills development funding expenses stated at R2,5bn.

It also could not determine whether any adjustment was necessary to the

TVET college infrastructure assets, stated at R1bn and accruals from non-exchange transactions stated at R665,1m, among other things.

According to Nzimande, the skills levy was expected to increase from R18.9bn in 2021/22 to R20.6bn in 2022/23. “We also have taken a decision to prioritize this sector by re-allocating additional funds from the NSF.

“We have begun a process of crafting one country one skills plan (Master Skills Plan).”

He said the SETAs would incorporate government priorities, especially those to address the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. “They will therefore develop their annual performance plans to address skills challenges in various sectors of the economy and the country in general.”

Nzimande said the government remained committed to financially support students from poor and working class backgrounds, while also putting a sustainable mechanism in place to support students from the so-called “missing middle,” and postgraduate students.