Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has placed the National Student Financial Aid Scheme under administration with immediate effect, citing serious governance and operational failures.
Manamela announced the decision on Monday, pointing to deep-rooted issues including maladministration, financial challenges, leadership instability, and a breakdown in systems within the embattled student funding body.
He confirmed that Hlengani Mathebula has been appointed as administrator and will take full control of NSFAS, following a prolonged period marked by board resignations and institutional instability.
“NSFAS therefore has implications not only for universities, but for the democratic state,” Manamela said, adding that government has a responsibility to intervene when the institution’s functioning is compromised.
The move is expected to have major implications for students and universities, as NSFAS plays a critical role in funding thousands of students across South Africa.
