The South African Student Congress notes with great disappointment the reports of Walter Sisulu University student who allegedly received 14 million rand meal allocation.
In the midst of countrywide outcry for the increase of student allowances, it is shocking to learn of such mismanagement of student loans and bursaries.
We call on NSFAS and Walter Sisulu University to take full responsibility for the incident and probe the private company involved in fraud and corruption, subsequent to that the private company must pay back the money.
We have rejected the privatization of the student scheme, and this is one of the examples of how corrupt and the irresponsible private sector can be with student money. We have also said that private sector can never be a solution over student finances.
SASCO has, for numerous times, raised its concerns over the new NSFAS central model which has failed majority of our students in the following accounts;
- Delay in the processing of applications
- Delay in the distribution of meals and book allowances and;
- Mismanagement of student funds
- Lack of leadership and accountability
We reaffirm our call for the Department of Higher Education and Training to fully monitor operations at NSFAS to prevent such incidents from happening in the near future.
Majority of students at Walter Sisulu University come from poor and working class backgrounds, coming from appalling socioeconomic status. Many students share meal allowances with their families and their peers who were rejected by NSFAS.
Since the student is not the one at fault here, it is our considered view that the student must be recused from the probe and be allowed to continue with her academic activities with ease.
We further caution our fellow student to be careful with how they spend their bursaries and loans, as these are meant for basic necessities required for academic success. The use of NSAFS loans and bursaries to buy concert tickets and other luxuries found in the retail markets must be resisted at all material cost.
Lastly, we call on the university and SRC deployees to support the student with social services to deal with trauma and shock in order for her to refocus on her studies and complete in record time.
TO: Chief Editors, Journalists, Media Houses
FROM: SASCO President: Thabo Moloja
Issues on behalf of the NEC
Thabo Moloja Tembani Makata
SASCO President SASCO Secretary General
Cell : 071 7175 980 Cell: 071 875 2209
Cell : 071 875 2224 Cell: 083 441 4521
Tell : 011 376 1000 Tell: 011 376 1000
1 Comment. Leave new
Its very disappointing that tax layers money, and not just tax payers money but millions of rand are being mismanaged by these companies that are in control of finances, if possible I think its time we question about intelli, and if possible the issuing of these kinds of finances should be managed by the state owned companies, it is believed that its not the only one who have received overloaded allowance, even here in Mtata campus ingathi ukhona owafunama eyonyaka wonke, wafona to report that and wasbtold that its for the whole year but every month receives monthly food allowance