THE Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has found that more than R5 billion of the National Student Financial Aid Schemes (NSFASs) money was possibly allocated to students who did not qualify to be funded by the institution. Inefficiency and corruption do not get bigger than this. What a scandalous fact.
Following an statement by president Nelson Mandela, President Jacob Zuma took the unusual step of not taking advice from the Treasury regarding the affordability of free education for all tertiary students below a certain income bracket, which pertains to more than 90% of all students. What was initially estimated to cost R16bn has now become a more than R65bn headache.
In his book titled by Jonathan D Jansen (Wits University Press, 2023), Jansen breaks down how universities have become so politicised that they are vulnerable to corruption.
In a study of chronic dysfunction at South African universities, the professor also raises concerns about how threats against university management have escalated into violence and more recently death for those who are seen to be rooting out corruption.
A well-publicised example of this is the violence meted out against the vice chancellor of the University of Fort Hare, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu. He hassurvived two attemptson his life in the past year, the first one happening in 2022 when several gunshots were fired at his home and the homes of other senior officials of the university.
Corruption regarding student funding is not only prevalent at the Universities. The Palm Ridge Magistrates Court has granted R50 000 bail to former KPMG bursary specialist Fidelis Moema and two co-accused. They allegedly defrauded the firm of R16.5 million which was meant for students. The magistrate, Sharon Soko, warned Moema, businessperson Trevor Machimana, and Tshwane metro police officer Lebogang Sigubudu not to apply for passports pending the finalisation of their case in which they face more than 400 charges of fraud and money laundering.
According to Corruption Watch, Mangosuthu University of Technology was placed under administration by Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Blade Nzimande in 2022 after allegations of governance irregularities and mismanagement of resources surfaced. The universitys council was also found to have failed to implement an investigation that he had authorised. There have also been allegations of corruption at theUniversity of Zululandand theUniversity of Mpumalanga.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised a probe into Fort Hares affairs. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the unit will investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration in the affairs of the University of Fort Hare ... and recover any financial losses suffered by the state through corruption and negligence. Kganyago said the SIU unit will investigate alleged unlawful and improper conduct that took place between November 1, 2012, and August 5, 2022.
In a post on social media platform, LinkedIn, Jacques van Wyk wrote, Former president Nelson Mandela would be ashamed of 2024 South Africa. The most recent in a long list of corruption-centred events would be particularly heart-breaking for Madiba as it concerns Fort Hare University, from where he and many former compatriots, including Oliver Tambo, Govan Mbeki, Robert Sobukwe and Mangosuthu Buthelezi, graduated.
Fort Hare was once described as a beacon of hope for South Africa during the countrys darkest apartheid days, having trained most of the leaders of our largest political party, and thousands of lawyers, doctors, and civil servants as well. Given this illustrious history, you would expect it to rank among the top 10 universities in South Africa. Sadly not. However, it does not even make the top 50 in Africa. Its once formidable reputation lies in tatters.
The table below contains the index which determines the study required to attain a certain National Qualification Framework (NQF) level on a scale from one to 10. The highest level one can attain is level 10 being awarded a doctoral degree. One of the objectives of NQF is to enhance the quality of education and training. The state of our national schools and tertiary institutions is letting South Africa as a country and its people down.
The system is ruining lives and livelihoods and is an embarrassment for each proud South African. In Universities, one has a collective of highly educated personnel, yet the professors and senior lecturers have allowed their institutions are supposed to be beyond reproach to become a shame to the country. What is the purpose of education if the highest density of top-level educators cannot run a clean and efficient administration of their own?
Of South Africas 26 public universities and universities of technology, there are major concerns regarding the governance at nine of these institutions. The Central University of Technology (CUT) in Bloe
