Members of the higher education portfolio committee did not hold back on voicing their criticism of higher education minister Blade Nzimande on Wednesday after he and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) failed to attend a meeting to discuss challenges around the payment of student allowances.
Committee chair Nompendulo Mkhatshwa said they would make it clear to the minister that “failure to appear before it will leave us with no other option but to summon them to parliament”.
The meeting was also meant to get feedback on delays in resolving student appeals and accreditation of student accommodation.
Members were to have been addressed by the four service providers contracted by NSFAS to disburse allowances to students.
The DA’s Chantel King said the chair of chairs should be approached “to note our anger and distress” and that a letter should be written to the speaker of parliament “to address the issue of the minister’s non-availability”.
This is why it is so easy for NSFAS to follow in his footsteps and not take us seriously because their boss does not take us seriously.
— Karabo Khakhau, MP
She said NSFAS had been given two weeks to deal with the questions raised at a previous meeting and that “we weren’t asking that they create a magic and silver bullet to fix all their problems overnight”.
“We were just wanting to find out at least what progress has been made. It is disheartening that yesterday the minister felt fit to meet the media to brief them on issues that were already discussed in this committee and post it off as if it was something new.”
During a media briefing on Tuesday Nzimande said there was no crisis at NSFAS.
King said he also gave the wrong information on figures during Tuesday’s media briefing.
“It just shows you that this minister is really out of touch with what’s going on in his portfolio.
“I feel it’s beyond the committee to deal with the minister. The minister just doesn’t care. He’s arrogant enough to undermine us.”
MP Karabo Khakhau said Nzimande “comes and goes and doesn’t take the deliberations of this committee seriously”.
“This is why it is so easy for NSFAS to follow in his footsteps and not take us seriously because their boss does not take us seriously.”
The committee heard that Nzimande and NSFAS had written separate letters on Monday requesting a postponement of the meeting.
On Tuesday, NSFAS indicated they would be attending and later informed the committee they would not.
Referring to the NSFAS’ letter, Khakhau said “it’s clear that NSFAS is unable to come and report to this committee because they do not know how to fix the mess we are in right now”.
“They are still confused, thumb-sucking ways to get out of this mess that they created, and they do not know how.”
“Two weeks ago we still tried to hold their hands and to baby them in the right direction, and two weeks later they still do not know where the direction is leading them and how to get there.”
She said it was “upsetting” that NSFAS was able to hold a media briefing “in a grandstanding manner to make it seem like they have their house in order”.
“But they do not have the decency to at least come before the committee that has been working to correct it and that they must account to.
“NSFAS has, together with minister, Nzimande, been disrespecting this committee, parliament and taxpayers.”
MP Kavilan Pillay also registered his disappointment at Nzimande and NSFAS's absence at the meeting, saying they should postpone it to allow them to attend next week.
Another MP Walter Letsie said the issues at NSFAS are very concerning “because every day that passes without NSFAS resolving issues affecting students is a day too long”.
“We are very disappointed that even today we still have appeals from students [to NSFAS] from February that have still not been resolved.
“When we met NSFAS two weeks ago, we made this point that many of the students who are females go to an extent of even dating sugar daddies just to have a meal.”
MP Sibongiseni Ngcobo said clear steps of action should be taken against NSFAS and Nzimande to send a clear message “that this committee will not tolerate disrespect”.
Another MP, Mandla Shikwambana, said Nzimande’s comment on Tuesday that there was no crisis at NSFAS speaks “volumes”.
“We met two weeks back with NSFAS and we identified problems. Blade doesn’t take the committee seriously.”
However, MP Bafuze Yabo cautioned members to be circumspect in their comments, saying they were still subjected to the rules of parliament.
“I would like to request that any time a member speaks about another member in the fashion we have been listening to, the chair must call such member to order.”
He said whenever members had a gripe on any matter, the rules of the house should be followed.
“I want to agree with members who would have reflected the absence of NSFAS is a demonstration of disrespect for the committee.”
Mkhatshwa said that on NSFAS in particular, they had multiple conversations on why they had not embarked on a commission of inquiry.
“We are all frustrated that we aren’t able to find the best way forward in relation to Nsfas.”
She said they did not accept the apology tendered by Nzimande and NSFAS for their non-attendance at Wednesday’s meeting.
In a letter to the portfolio committee, which was seen by TimesLIVE Premium, Nzimabde said both his department and NSFAS were not ready to brief the portfolio committee.
“This is due to the fact that NSFAS is still engaging in internal matters that they still have to report to me before they can be presented to the portfolio committee,” Nzimande said.
He requested “the meeting be postponed to next week and that it take place virtually” so that he can attend.
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