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Staff Reporter
Amid growing calls jfor his axing, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Prof Blade Nzimande has broken his silence on corruption allegations against him contained in a leaked report by the civil society movement, Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA).
“The Minister wishes to reject the malicious allegations contained in the leaked OUTA report and further reassures the public that he never used any money from any of Department’s entities for the purpose of funding the South African Communist Party (SACP),” said a statement.
The Minister views the allegations contained in this leaked report as reckless and largely based on gossip, intended to undermine a smooth start to the 2024 academic year.
Furthermore, given the damaging allegations continued in this report the Minister reserves his right to take the necessary legal action against OUTA, which called on Nzimande to resign over his role in alleged bribery claims.
“The Minister wishes to reaffirm his and the Department’s commitment to clean governance within the Department and its entities.
The Minister remains focused on the immediate task of preparing for the start of the 2024 academic year and calls upon all our Post-School Education and Training stakeholders not to be distracted but to focus on the start of the academic year.”
But the South African Union of Students, the Democratic Alliance, and the Activists and Citizens Forum, called for action against Nzimande.
Chantel King, the DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, called on President Ramaphosa to sack Nzimande from his duties as Minister and lodge an investigation into his alleged involvement with NSFAS syphoned funds.
“The President must also use his power to suspend NSFAS board chairperson Mr. Khosa from having any involvement with state funds.”
OUTA’s release of voice recording between two meetings between Mr. Khosa, Mr. Thulas Ntumba a service provider and an anonymous individual revealed a corrupt patronage system who is only focused on diverting funds away from students.
These recordings revealed how a third party was informed of NSFAS dealings around the issue of former CEO Andile Nongogo and the instruction given to Mr. Khosa by Mr. Ntumba to enrol the services of Werksman’s attorneys to investigate allegations against Mr. Nongogo to control the situation.
It also revealed how Mr. Ntumba and associates paid for SACP’s congress and kickbacks to Mr. Khosa and the Minister.
These voice recordings give a glimpse into corruption at NSFAS under the current board chairperson who is controlled by a syndicate whose tentacles stretch to SETA’s funds as well.
“Minister Nzimande’s war room to tackle challenges at the start of the academic year is therefore nothing more than a smoke screen to divert attention away from the fact that more than 20 000 students still have not been onboarded,” King said.
“Minister Blade and NSFAS board chairperson are tainted, and they must be investigated and fired with immediate effect, notwithstanding criminal charges laid against them as this is nothing less than NSFAS capture 2.0! Students and the higher education sector at large are vital to produce educated and skilled
individuals for the economic progression of the country. The DA will ensure that the reports released by OUTA, and any criminal charges or investigations lodged, will be thoroughly investigated and those found responsible be appropriately sanctioned and/or imprisoned.”
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