“My conscience is clear I have nothing to hide.’’ These are the strong words uttered by Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande during a media briefing in Pretoria, hitting back at allegations of bribery and corruption involving the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
This as the Organization Undoing Tax Abuse, OUTA, has accused Nzimande and NSFAS board chairperson, Ernest Khoza, and the South African Communist Party (SACP) of receiving millions of rands in kickback payments from the scheme service providers.
Following calls for him to step down by several organizations and some political parties, he made it clear that he does not intend to resign from his duties, describing the calls and allegations as a ’malicious fightback campaign.’
‘’I am not going to resign, why should I resign?
I have no need to resign. As the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, I have never used any money from any of my departments’ entities for the purpose of funding the South African Communist Party.
Nor have I received any personal kickbacks from NSFAS or its entities,’’ emphasized Nzimande.
The minister also revealed that he plans to legally challenge the allegations and that he will voluntarily subject himself to the African National Congress integrity committee and SACP Central ethics commission.
Nzimande added that there is an urgent meeting with the NSFAS board scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the matter further.
Meanwhile, the SACP said it stands by its chairperson’s innocence and welcomed his decision to subject himself to internal processes and questioned OUTA’s investigation report in the matter.
“A legitimate investigation upholds the fundamental principle of justice, “audi alteram partem,” meaning listen to the other side before you can reach conclusions.
Any exercise, including by a non-governmental organisation, that violates this fundamental principle is not an investigation but something else,” read a statement from the party.
