Blade Nzimande: DA’S Claims We Are Writing Off Historic NSFAS Debt Are Factually Incorrect and Irresponsible

NYAKALLO TEFU

HIGHER Education Minister Blade Nzimande has dismissed claims by the Democratic Alliance that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSAFAS) was in the process of writing off R1.96 billion in student’s historic debt.

This comes after DA’s spokesperson on higher education, science and technology, Belinda Bozzoli, said the party was concerned that NSFAS planned to write off R1.96 billion in debt. 

Bozzoli demanded clarity from Nzimande on what criteria had been used to write off the debt, saying if the process of clearing historic debt was based solely on non-payment by past beneficiaries, then it was an indictment on NSFAS for not collecting monies owed to it and those individual beneficiaries for failing to pay back.

Briefing the media on Tuesday on progress in the implementation of measures by the Post School Education Sector in response to COVID-19 epidemic, Nzimande said DA’s claims were factually incorrect and irresponsible.

“I