Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela addresses Nsfas challenges after court order
Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela stated that the challenges facing the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Nsfas will not disappear despite an interim court order that altered the scheme’s governance. Speaking at a meeting with Nsfas board members in Gauteng, Manamela emphasized that the difficulties, which led to him placing Nsfas under administration, involved serious institutional, governance, financial, and operational issues that developed over time. He noted that concerns about the scheme were also highlighted by oversight processes, including findings from the Public Protector. The Minister stressed that the court order changed interim governance arrangements but did not resolve the underlying institutional problems. He called for strengthening Nsfas’ systems, controls, and governance, highlighting urgent matters such as the scheme's financial position, payments owed to institutions, student funding decisions, operational systems, and audit remediation. Manamela urged the board to establish a clear understanding of Nsfas' current position and agree on a credible path forward, while acknowledging that not all issues would be resolved during the meeting.