NSFAS is reportedly also funding students who do not qualify.
ANCYL says it is concerned by reports that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) had provided financial aid to 822 students who have been registered as deceased by the Home Department.
according to a report Through the Office of the Auditor General, NSFAS also funded the education of some students who did not qualify for financial aid. This includes students who already qualified and students who did not qualify because of their net income at home.
“This shocking revelation is not just an administrative failure, but a betrayal of the aspirations of young people who depend on NSFAS for access to higher education.
ANC Youth League general secretary Tsakani Shiviti said in response, “At a time when countless deserving students are excluded due to lack of funding, it is unacceptable that public resources are being misused due to weak systems, poor verification processes and a lack of accountability.”
bad control system
Shiviti further questioned how NSFAS failed to integrate its own systems with government databases such as Home Affairs and Social Development.
“Continued payment to dead persons points to governance, oversight and systemic failure results management.
“This failure undermines public confidence and Destroys the integrity of a program that aims to advance social justice And economic transformation,” he said.
He also questioned NSFAS's internal controls.
“While NSFAS imposes stringent eligibility criteria on live students, often resulting in delays, exclusions and funding shortfalls, the same controls have failed to prevent fraud or incorrect payments. This contradiction highlights the urgent need for reform within the institution.
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ANCYL demands
ANCYL has demanded an immediate investigation led by law enforcement agencies including SIU and Hawks to trace all misallocated funds and identify those responsible.
It also wants consequence management, including suspension and prosecution of officials implicated in negligence, fraud or corruption.
Further demands include a full audit and systems overhaul within NSFAS to ensure real-time data validation with Home Affairs and other relevant departments, and parliamentary oversight to ensure that NSFAS is held accountable and corrective measures are implemented without delay.
It states that eligible students need protection, ensuring that no eligible youth is denied access to education due to institutional failures.
“ANCYL reiterates that education is a fundamental tool for economic liberation and any misuse of funds allocated for this purpose is an attack on the future of South Africa's youth.
Siviti said, “We will continue to advocate for a transparent, efficient and corruption-free NSFAS that truly serves the interests of the poor and the working class. The youth of this country deserve better.”
Accountability
Siviti said NSFAS must be fixed and those responsible for mismanagement of funds must be held accountable.
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