JOHANNESBURG - Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, has placed NSFAS under administration.
This, as he cited claims of poor governance, financial and operational failures.
Manamela appointed Professor Hlengani Mathebula as Administrator of NSFAS.
The decision follows a long process of engagement, legal assessment, governance intervention, and consideration of alternatives.
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Manamela said concerns around the constitution of the NSFAS board had already surfaced when he assumed office.
He said the department subsequently sought legal advice and approached the courts through self-review proceedings to challenge the process through which the board was constituted.
"We took this step because government cannot knowingly ignore potential legal irregularities in the constitution of a statutory body entrusted with billions of rands in public funds and the futures of millions of students," he said.