Pressure is mounting on Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela to resign following a scathing Section 7(9) notice issued by Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka over the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
The investigation found what the Public Protector described as significant systemic failures, governance breakdowns and widespread improper funding allocations within NSFAS.
The South African Union of Students (SAUS) has joined calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to remove Manamela from his Cabinet.
Speaking on YOU FM’s Newshour, SAUS Treasurer-General Nkosinathi Mabilane said NSFAS had experienced systemic failures and persistent governance problems for years, despite being placed under administration more than three times.
“It is clear that Minister Manamela lacks the political will to resolve these challenges. He has done far more damage than his predecessor, and I think we must not shy away from calling for his removal as the Minister,” said Mabilane.
“If the President really values the importance of higher education, then Buti Manamela should be removed from his position. He has proven that he learned nothing during his tenure as Deputy Minister for eight years.”
SAUS said it was particularly concerned that more than 40,000 eligible students from the so-called “missing middle” were left without funding, despite a designated R3 billion allocation intended to support them between 2024 and 2027.
“It is disheartening because while all these political battles are playing out, many of our students continue to be defunded. Many of our students continue to be rejected by NSFAS, while many others cannot graduate because they owe fees despite being NSFAS beneficiaries,” Mabilane said.
“All these challenges are affecting students who are predominantly coming from working-class backgrounds.”
The student union is also calling for an increase in the NSFAS household income threshold. It wants the current R350,000 limit increased to R400,000, while the higher-tier limit should rise from R600,000 to R650,000.
Mabilane said the proposed changes were necessary because students classified as part of the “missing middle” often come from households supporting several children.
“There should be an understanding of the various backgrounds from which we come. Many of the students who are supposedly from the so-called ‘missing middle’ have two or three siblings, or come from households with several siblings, which means their parents must afford tuition for each child in their household,” he said.
“That is why we are concerned about billions of rands that go missing without doing what they are meant to do.”
SAUS said it would continue monitoring developments and expressed hope that Manamela and the current NSFAS board, which was reinstated by the North Gauteng High Court last Friday, would work together to address the governance and corruption challenges facing the scheme.
Meanwhile, political parties and civil society organisations have also called for Manamela’s removal, accusing him of failing to adequately address concerns surrounding NSFAS.
