The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is currently being run by Professor Hlengani Mathebula, who was appointed as the organisation's Administrator on the 4th May this year. One of his deliverables is to present a stabilisation report to the relevant Minister, Buti Manamela, within 3 months.
The Stabilisation Report was handed over to the Minister, accompanied by his two Deputy Ministers, Director General of the Higher Education and Training Department, and a number of Deputy Director-Generals.
Mathebula explained that he had been working with the current management team at NSFAS, first to identify the problems that the organisation faced and then develop a plan to solve them. He promised that the process would not get bogged down with 'analysis paralysis' but would rather look to 'results-orientated actions'.
The Administrators assessment did not paint a positive picture of the organisation. But this would not have come as a shock to the many students and service providers who are waiting for payments.
However he also took a sideswipe at his detractors, and the negative media coverage he has been receiving over issues like his remuneration, and this hotel expenses.
"The state of the organisation is parlous which has facilitated selfish interest to take root. Therefore, my Administration's decisive action again the rot have provoked spirited opposition from those whose interest is being threatened," said Mathebula.
The Administrator accepted that the work of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) was an 'apt acknowledgement of NSFAS's governance failures'.
Mathebula reported that supply chain safeguards and internal audit capacity had been significantly eroded. There were 66 major audit findings in the last audit report, and 115 overdue audit findings.
He stated that is his opinion, "ICT is NSFAS's biggest operational risk. It is fragmented, manual and not fit for purpose".
The Professor concluded his report by stating that student deserve a financial aid scheme that not only meets but exceeds its mandate. Students and service providers across the country will doubtless agree - and be waiting to see the results of the Administator's reforms.
