Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane is in hot water, with the DA laying criminal charges against her for allegedly misleading parliament. The problems stem back to the Minister's recent announcement on the new heads of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas). Her list of proposed Chairpersons for the organisations was widely criticised for including political allies rather than people suitably qualified - and independent from the Minister.
Minister Nkabane tried to defend her appointments but was eventually forced to remove the proposal and start again. The fallout from that is now having an impact on the Department's budget proposals from the next two years.
The Higher Education Department includes NSFAS as one of its reporting entities, and the plans are for the student funding organisation's funding to increase from the current R48,7 bn to R51, bn for the next academic year and then R53,4 bn for the 2027 academic year.
With annual increases in student fees, accommodation rates etc, the funding for NSFAS has to increase each year even if they only support the same number of students each year.
Minister Nkabane said, "We will continue to seek efficient wasy of allocating limited resources to ensure that no deserving learner is left behind."
The department budget is currently being debated in parliament. Members of parliament have called on the Department to intervene with NSFAS on the issue of 27,000 students who are currently funded but may have their funding withdrawn.
The qualifying household income limit was also discussed. This has been pegged at R350,000 per annum for the last few years and hasn't been adjusted for inflation. Members of parliament made the point that when the parents' income increases to R351,000 they will no longer be eligible for funding - but the parents still won't be able to afford to pay fees.
