SASCO calls appointment of current NSFAS board illegal

JOHANNESBURG - The South African Students Congress (SASCO) has slammed the appointment of the current National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board, calling it illegal.

The organisation alleges that Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane failed to follow appointment regulations.

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The board, which consists of 12 members, was appointed in February.

SASCO held a media briefing at the African National Congress (ANC)'s Luthuli House headquarters on Sunday to address the state of the department, NSFAS and the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA)s.

SASCO is demanding urgent changes in the scheme.

Section 5 of the NSFAS Act stipulates that the board must consist of 13 members, three of whom must be nominated by national organisations representing students.

SASCO president Alungile Kamtshe claimed that the minister had failed to follow this legal procedure when making the appointments.

Kamtshe said that student organisations were not properly consulted.

"Three are designated to be nominated by national organisations representing students and that's to this extent that we declare that that board is illegal, considering that its appointment has been flawed throughout."

Kamtshe warned that if their calls were ignored, students would be mobilised into action.