The National Skills Fund (NSF) has been found by the Auditor General to have failed to account for R5 Billion. This fund is a government public entity that reports to the Department of Higher Education.
The South African Union for Students (SAUS) in a statement read:
This is highly troubling, especially when the sector is in desperate need of funding. Less than a month ago, NSFAS had to halt its activities with regards to advancing funding decisions, and subsequently, universities had to halt and extend their registration periods because NSFAS had a funding shortfall of R9.6 Billion.
The missing middle students in Higher Education account for 20% of their entire student population, this cohort of students are struggling for funds to register for the 2022 academic year.
According to SAUS, these are the funding challenges crippling the sector, whilst other entities of the department are looting R5 Billion.
The union has also called on the department to expedite their investigation of this ‘theft’, and ensure that all those that are found to have been responsible, be prosecuted in a competent court of law.
Recently, the East London Regional Court had convicted former Walter Sisulu University student, Sibongile Mani for charges of theft in connection with the R14 million that was mistakenly deposited into her NSFAS account.
“We cannot accept that all other stakeholders who had been alleged to be involved, such as NSFAS officials, WSU officials, and Intellimali appear to have been completely exonerated of their alleged role on the transferring of the R14 million,” read the South African Unions for Students statement.
To read the full statement, click here.
