Latest news with #SASCO
News24
02-07-2025
- Politics
- News24
SASCO demands immediate removal of Higher Education Minister, Nobuhle Nkabane
Funding for higher education remains a significant crisis in South Africa, impacting countless students. As they grapple with securing financial support for their studies, the last thing they need is for those in positions of authority to worsen their challenges. The South African Students' Congress (SASCO) is the third organisation to call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to axe Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, following similar demands from the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). SASCO is accusing the Minister of incompetence and alleged corruption that threatens to extinguish the last hope for many students seeking financial aid. Read more | Former Transnet executives granted R50 000 bail each for fraud and corruption The organisation's concerns are centred around the Minister's alleged inability to effectively manage the department, resulting in failures, delays in student funding, and a general lack of accountability. One of the many key issues highlighted by SASCO is the alleged illegal appointment of chairpersons to 21 Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) boards, some of which included ANC politicians. The organisation claims that these appointments have contributed significantly to the challenges faced by students, including delays in funding and a lack of transparency in the allocation of resources. SASCO has also expressed deep concern over the systematic exclusion of students from accessing higher education, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The organisation argues that Minister Nkabane's policies and actions have perpetuated a two-tier education system, where only a select few have access to quality education, while the majority are left behind. In light of these concerns, SASCO is calling for Minister Nkabane's immediate removal even though no replacement has been yet found as they believe that removing her is necessary to restore stability and functionality to the Higher Education Sector. .Talking to eNCA on Sunday June 29, 2025, at the ANC's Luthuli House headquarters, SASCO President Alungile Kamtshe threatened to mobilise students and take them to the streets to put pressure if the Minister isn't removed immediately by this week 'We're going to start and consolidate students, remember that students are on recess currently after mid-year exams so once they get back on campus, we're going to do students mass meetings so that we mobilise them,' he stressed. 'This Minister has undermined public intelligence, literally, it's only her who's clever and everyone else is stupid, and through observation by South Africans it is clear that this Minister is not fit for office,' he added. In response to SASCO, Minister Nkabane briefed the media on Monday, June 30, 2025, pertaining Thursday's budget vote and maintained that she's not 'shaken' by the calls. 'There's nothing that I can say because it is the prerogative of the President to appoint, re-deploy or deploy, so I cannot say anything,' she stated. The DA has pledged to vote against the Department of Higher Education's budget until Ministers facing allegations of poor governance or corruption are held accountable. The story is still under development.
IOL News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
NSFAS Crisis to Board Scandals: 5 reasons SASCO wants Nkabane out
SASCO demands Minister Nobuhle Nkabane's removal, citing NSFAS delays, governance failures, and poor leadership driving education into crisis. They accuse DHET of serving capital over student transformation. Sasco cited multiple failures under Nkabane's leadership, including severe delays in NSFAS disbursements, flawed board appointments, chronic underfunding of institutions, and the growing commodification of education. "It is the direct result of poor governance by the Department of Higher Education and Training and the opportunistic, malicious, and poor bourgeoisie agenda by the university and college management.'' Kamatshe said the crisis facing students today is not incidental. As previously reported by IOL, Nkabane has faced criticism following allegations of corruption and for allegedly misleading Parliament about the illegal appointment of the SETA board, including false details about the appointment process and panel composition. Speaking at the ANC's Luthuli House on Sunday, Sasco president Alungile Kamtshe said, 'We contend that DHET, led by Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, within the government of national unity, has consistently failed to deliver on its most basic responsibilities.' The South African Students Congress (SASCO) has called for the immediate removal of Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane , accusing her and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) of catastrophic governance failures that are driving the higher education sector into crisis. Sasco accused the Nkabane and her department of gross negligence, illegal conduct, and structural violence that disproportionately harms black, poor, and working-class students. 'We are left with no choice but to take a drastic stance in defence of the education sector that has been built through the blood, sweat and tears of the students and the public servants for over the centuries.'' Here are the five main reasons SASCO believes Minister Nkabane must go: 1. Illegal Appointment of the NSFAS Board SASCO asserts that the current NSFAS board was illegally appointed, violating Section 5 of the NSFAS Act of 1999, which mandates that three out of thirteen board members must be nominated by national student organisations. The absence of these student-nominated representatives, SASCO argues, renders the board illegitimate and its decisions null. 'The Minister has failed in her duty relating to the appointment of the NSFAS this extent, we declare that that board is illegal,'' said Kamtshe. SASCO plans to take legal action to compel the Minister to comply with the law. 2. Delays in NSFAS Allowances & Student Exclusion SASCO slammed the catastrophic delays in NSFAS disbursements, saying that thousands of students are still without their allowances midway through the academic year. Many are reportedly homeless, sleeping in libraries, toilets, or on the streets, while institutions issue exclusion letters. 'This is not just bureaucratic incompetence. It is structural violence. Institutions are merciless and have been dishing out exclusion letters to add insult to injury.' They demand the immediate payment of all allowances by the end of the current recess, and an end to financial, academic, and accommodation-based exclusions,particularly targeting vulnerable first-year students. 3. Mishandling of SETA Board SASCO alleges the appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) boards and Community Higher Education Planning Committees (CHPCs) was riddled with secrecy, misrepresentation, and possible dishonesty to Parliament. 'The Minister may have lied to the Portfolio Committee. The process shows a pure disregard for the citizens of this country.' They warned that the delay in appointments has created a vacuum, giving executives unchecked power due to the absence of board oversight. SASCO demands that the process to appoint new boards to be restarted immediately and be completed by August 1. 4. Negligence Over Student Housing & the Death of Sisonke The tragic death of Sisonke, a student at Walter Sisulu University, is central to SASCO's call for accountability. SASCO accuses the Minister's office of spreading misinformation, claiming Sisonke was not a student, only for the claim to be proven false. 'The officials that publicly lied, continue to earn their salaries. The death of Sisonke was in vain.' SASCO demands justice for Sisonke, and calls for NSFAS to accredit institutionally owned residences, especially in historically disadvantaged universities where students live in unsafe and inhumane conditions.
Eyewitness News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
SASCO calls appointment of current NSFAS board illegal
JOHANNESBURG - The South African Students Congress (SASCO) has slammed the appointment of the current National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board, calling it illegal. The organisation alleges that Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane failed to follow appointment regulations. ALSO READ: SASCO calls for immediate removal of Higher Education Minister Nkabane The board, which consists of 12 members, was appointed in February. SASCO held a media briefing at the African National Congress (ANC)'s Luthuli House headquarters on Sunday to address the state of the department, NSFAS and the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA)s. SASCO is demanding urgent changes in the scheme. Section 5 of the NSFAS Act stipulates that the board must consist of 13 members, three of whom must be nominated by national organisations representing students. SASCO president Alungile Kamtshe claimed that the minister had failed to follow this legal procedure when making the appointments. Kamtshe said that student organisations were not properly consulted. "Three are designated to be nominated by national organisations representing students and that's to this extent that we declare that that board is illegal, considering that its appointment has been flawed throughout." Kamtshe warned that if their calls were ignored, students would be mobilised into action.
IOL News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
‘Firing Nkabane alone is unfair, Simelane, Ntshavheni must go too,' says analyst
SASCO and political parties push for Higher Education Minister Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane's dismissal, but one political expert says other corrupt accused ministers should also be held accountable. Image: Twitter The South African Students Congress (SASCO) has joined a growing number of voices calling for the removal of Higher Education Minister Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, but one political analyst says she should not be fired alone while other ministers accused of corruption remain. SASCO, which has joined parties such as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to dismiss Nkabane. Nkabane is facing mounting allegations of corruption and misleading Parliament about the process used to appoint the SETA board members - a list which was dominated by African National Congress (ANC) affiliates, including the son of Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, Buyambo. Addressing the media on Sunday, SASCO President Alungile Amtshe said Nkabane had failed students on multiple fronts, including by failing to appoint a National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). "The crisis facing students today is not incidental. It is the direct result of poor governance by the Department of Higher Education and Training and the opportunistic, malicious, and poor bourgeoisie agenda by the university and college management," Amtshe said. 'We contend that DHET, led by Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, within the government of national unity, has consistently failed to deliver on its most basic responsibilities - from the catastrophic delays in NSFAS disbursements to the flawed appointment of strategic boards meant to accelerate access to education and training.' Amtshe also criticised the chronic underfunding of institutions that serve working-class communities and accused university managers of treating higher education as a profit-driven enterprise. 'These managements are complicit in the systemic exclusion of Black and working-class students, perpetuating a two-tier education system that serves capital, not the people,' he said. He added that SASCO has no choice but to take a 'drastic stance' and called for Nkabane's immediate removal. Meanwhile, political analyst Professor Bheki Mngomezulu told IOL News that calls for Nkabane's firing appear selective, pointing out that other ministers implicated in corruption allegations remain in office. 'There have been mounting calls on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Nkabane, but what are they saying about Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane? It will be unfair to focus on Nkabane while ignoring others,' Mngomezulu said. Simelane, while mayor of Polokwane, allegedly took out a R575,600 loan from the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank to purchase a Sandton coffee shop. She has since denied any wrongdoing and was later moved from the Justice and Constitutional Development Ministry to Human Settlements. Simelane also faced scrutiny for alleged inflated billing linked to a R700,000 Eskom contract, which she vehemently denied. Another minister under fire is Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, the minister in the presidency, who was under the Hawks investigation for R2.5 million in alleged tender fraud dating back to her time in the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality, in Limpopo. She has not responded to the allegations. However, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula has defended her, saying the party would only respond when it has 'something tangible.' The controversy intensified following public outcry in May after Nkabane recommended several politically connected individuals for the SETA boards. In addition to Buyambo, those who were appointed included former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr. Nomusa Dube-Ncube, provincial transport official Siboniso Mbhele, and ANC Johannesburg Deputy Regional Secretary Loyiso Masuku. Critics have accused Nkabane of political patronage and misleading Parliament regarding the selection process.
The South African
29-06-2025
- Politics
- The South African
SASCO demands Nkabane's removal over SETA, NSFAS scandals
The South African Students Congress (SASCO) has intensified pressure on Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, demanding her immediate removal over concerns about poor leadership and controversial appointments to key education bodies. Speaking at the ANC's Luthuli House on Sunday, SASCO president Alungile Kamtshe launched a scathing critique of Nkabane, accusing her of incompetence and arrogance. He said SASCO would use the next 30 days to outline seven grievances against the minister. 'This minister has undermined the public intelligence,' Kamtshe declared. 'She's the only one that's clever; everyone is stupid, but to the observation by South Africans, it is clear that this minister is not fit for office.' Kamtshe also criticised Nkabane's refusal in Parliament to reveal the advisory panel responsible for appointing Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board chairs. The controversy, coupled with allegations of politically driven appointments, has raised concerns about governance in the sector. Opposition parties and education stakeholders accuse Nkabane of appointing ANC-linked individuals to key roles within SETA, leading to operational delays and weakening accountability structures. The Democratic Alliance and others have submitted complaints to the Office of the Public Protector. Kamtshe urged swift action on SETA board appointments, warning of the dangers of prolonged delays. 'Every minute that there is a delay in appointing these boards, it provides SETA executives with unfitted powers due to minimal accountability,' he said. SASCO also called for a complete overhaul of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board, alleging corruption and improper procedures in its formation. 'We declare that the board is illegal, considering its appointment has been flawed throughout,' Kamtshe said. Kamtshe appealed directly to the higher education portfolio committee, urging them to defend students' interests. 'We call upon the portfolio committee members to take the NSFAS board matter into serious regard and take the students' interests and place them at the centre,' he stated. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
