Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane has faced increased pressure as numerous organisations, including political parties and student organisations, have called for the minister to be fired. Student organisations noted that the minister’s unfulfilled promises and her failed attempts to appoint ANC-aligned individuals to the Sector Education and Training Authority’s (SETA) Chairperson board.
Speaking on VOC’s NewsBeat Show, Mangaliso Nompula, 1st Deputy Secretary General of the student organisation SASCO, noted that their organisation had a particular issue with the operation of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), arguing that the Minister of Higher Education had not properly followed the NSFAS Act.
“The NSFAS board should include student representatives or nominees from national student organisations at the appointment level. During the appointment that did not take place, we need ratification because the NSFAS Act stipulates that three out of the thirteen appointees must be nominated or represented by NSFAS student organisations,” stated Nompula.
Nompula stated that the mishandling of the SETA appointments is an embarrassment that warrants the minister’s dismissal, as the ongoing delay in appointments negatively impacts the education standards of the Republic.
“They must restart the appointment of the SETA boards. We are in total disagreement with the due diligence that has been made. People must be appointed on merit. Of course, people have their own political freedoms, but we cannot tolerate a ‘friends like this’ employment strategy. This is as SETAs are supposed to be galvanising the skills revolution of this country and contributing to the economy of this country,” said Nompula.
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