Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Chantel King MP.
The DA calls on the Public Protector to prioritise their investigation into the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) direct payment contracts and subsequent defunding of students.
Students at higher learning institutions all over the country have started protesting the direct payment failures that have led to multitudes facing defunding, evictions and hunger. Some universities have reverted to online classes to try and minimise the detrimental impact on students, but it is clear that the rewarding of direct payment contracts to Coinvest Africa, Tenet Technology, Ezaga Holdings and Norraco Corporation must be investigated and resolved as a matter of urgency.
The DA will conduct oversight to a number of universities and TVET facilities in the coming weeks to address the situation and assist students where possible.
Once again, government has failed to address the heart of students’ concerns and in the process caused chaos which the affected have to try and mitigate.