Student funding: MPs insist that they won’t ‘babysit’ department

THE Department of Higher Education and Training was rapped on the knuckles yesterday when it asked for more time to present reports on student funding and the National Skills Fund (NSF) forensic investigation.

This happened when the National Assembly committee on higher education and training was scheduled to be briefed on four reports, but the department asked to be allowed to make a presentation on only two.

ANC MPs led the charge against the department, with committee chairperson Nompendulo Mkhatshwa not mincing her words.

“We are not in the business of babysitting the department … It is unfair to put us in that situation,” Mkhwatsha said.

Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Buti Manamela, said the MTT report was with the Cabinet and would be released to the public in about two months, while the forensic investigation report would be out “as soon as possible”.

Minister of Higher Edication, Science and Technology, Dr Blade Nzimande, appointed a Ministerial Task Team (MTT) to review the NSF and told Parliament in May that he was to receive a report on the forensic investigation into NSF finances in June.

Manamela said the report on student funding was still with the Cabinet, and a legal opinion was sought on handling the forensic report.

ANC MP Tebogo Letsie said the MTT report was, according to the department’s presentation, handed over to Nzimande in June and thereafter to director-general Nkosinathi Sishi for implementation from July until June 2023.

ANC Member of Parliament Kathleen Dibolelo Mahlatsi said it was unwarranted that the discussion was taking place when the department knew how things were done before the committee.