Opposition parties on Thursday rejected the Department of Higher Education and Training’s budget, citing corruption and incompetence in the department.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) vowed to oppose the department’s budget while it is led by African National Congress (ANC) Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, who the party described as “dishonest and incompetent”.

“Until she is removed, the DA will oppose her budget and demand accountability,” the DA said.

On Tuesday, the DA laid criminal charges against Nkabane for allegedly lying to Parliament about ANC cadre appointments, promising to vote against her department’s budget and other budgets of departments led by what it calls “corrupt” ANC Ministers.

Last week the party gave President Cyril Ramaphosa an ultimatum to fire Nkabane, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, and National Assembly member David Mahlobo, following the sudden removal from the Government of National Unity (GNU) of its own Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield.

DA deputy spokesperson on Higher Education Desiree van der Walt said Nkabane cannot be trusted to manage R142-billion meant for students, adding that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) wastes millions on luxury offices while students sleep in libraries and go without support.

“Over 212 000 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) students had delayed allowances due to preventable technical failures. R1.3-billion in payment contracts went to unqualified companies with no financial experience. A disabled student has waited two years for her certificate, showing how the department fails the most vulnerable,” said Van der Walt.

DA spokesperson on Higher Education Matlhodi Maseko claimed that Nkabane had not acted against officials implicated in fraud or maladministration.

Maseko criticised the current state of higher education in South Africa, highlighting incompetence and corruption in leadership.

She emphasised the need for ethical leadership to ensure proper use of the budget.

MORE FUNDING AND BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE

ActionSA Member of Parliament Malebo Kobe also pointed to a crisis in the Higher Education department, noting that each year, over 337 000 learners achieved a Bachelor’s pass, yet there were only 202 000 university spaces available.


“…this is a slammed door in the face of achievement. And for those who do make it through that door, they often find themselves with nowhere to sleep. The student housing backlog stands at over 500 000 beds. At the start of each academic year, we see students sleeping in hallways, on floors and on the streets,” said Kobe.

She stated that the NSFAS was a bureaucracy of despair, saying the system itself was broken.

ActionSA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) called for more funding for NSFAS, with ActionSA suggesting a raise of up to R500 000, and that low-interest loans with repayments be deferred until two years of employment capped at 10% of income.

“TVET colleges are also hit with funding cuts, and universities suffer from poor infrastructure. The EFF’s Student Debt Relief Bill aims to cancel outstanding student debt and help those unable to graduate. We call for more NSFAS funding, better infrastructure, and real support for students. Until students can focus on education, not survival, we fail them and the country,” said EFF Member Leatitia Arries.

Arries said the budget reflected the failure of Nkabane and her department, noting that NSFAS was underfunded, leaving students with delays, debt, and inadequate support.

ActionSA wanted hijacked buildings in the cities' CBDs to be converted into student accommodation, and said “broken” sector education and training authorities must be scrapped and their budgets channelled into an innovative Opportunity Fund.