Manamela Places NSFAS Under Administration

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela placed the National Student Financial Aid Scheme under administration on Monday, appointing Professor Hlengani Mathebula as administrator to address severe governance instability and operational failures at the agency responsible for funding hundreds of thousands of poor and working-class students.

Manamela announced the decision during a media briefing in Pretoria, invoking sections 17A to 17D of the NSFAS Act of 1999. He described the move as a last resort after months of legal assessments, governance interventions and failed attempts to stabilize the institution through board mechanisms. Key triggers included multiple board resignations, including those of acting chairperson Mugwena Maluleke and deputy chairperson, which reduced the board to seven members. The board had insisted it remained quorate and capable of functioning, rejecting the need for administration.

The crisis stemmed from longstanding issues, such as legal questions over the board's constitution that prompted departmental court proceedings, a disclaimer audit outcome for the 2024/25 financial year, material irregularities identified by the Auditor-General,...