Primrose Lerato Mbhiza
THE Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen said the party is preparing criminal charges against Minister Blade Nzimande and NSFAS chairperson Earnest Khosa.
“We are currently briefing our legal team to declare the NSFAS board delinquent over the corrupt and irrational direct payment and accommodation tenders. This legal action is in keeping with the findings of the State Capture Commission, which recommended that it should become standard practice to declare board members involved in capture and corruption as delinquent”.
During a live broadcast Steenhuisen said the DA is taking these steps because, unlike the ANC they care about disadvantaged students who are fighting to rise above challenges to obtain education.
He added that the systemic corruption evident at NSFAS and the Department of Higher Education is likely to trigger a serious crisis when students return to campuses later this month, only to find that they cannot access accommodation and are being charged to fund corruption every time they try to buy food.
“ANC corruption and mismanagement has created a funding shortfall of over R1.1 billion, which means that funding will be withdrawn from over 87 000 students, in addition to the 20 000 students who were already deprived last year.
“’And yet, despite this existential crisis that threatens to derail our education sector, President Cyril Ramaphosa remains absent as usual.
“Like he does every time that evidence emerges showing that corruption and capture has reached new heights under his administration, Ramaphosa takes the coward’s way out.
“Instead of firing Nzimande and Khosa, he has remained silent, while the ANC has meekly suggested that Nzimande may appear before its so-called integrity committee,” he said.
In addition Steenhuisen said the DA will immediately submit a request under the Promotion of Access to Information Act to obtain a copy of the Werksmans report into the awarding of the direct payment tenders.
“We will write to Ramaphosa and the Special Investigating Unit to demand that the scope of the SIU’s investigation be broadened to include the alleged kickbacks to Nzimande and the SACP”.
INSIDE POLITICS.
