Daily Maverick reports that Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Minister Buti Manamela has admitted that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) faces challenges.
This after its board chairperson, Dr Karen Stander, with less than one year in her new job as chairperson of the NSFAS board, resigned with immediate effect over the weekend after citing a ‘toxic’ work environment marked by racism, bullying, intimidation and personal threats at the entity. According to reports, Stander stated that she could no longer effectively and conscientiously perform her duties due to the deteriorating conditions within the board. After meeting with both Stander and the NSFAS board, including acting chief executive officer Waseem Carrim, Manamela admitted that Stander told him that NSFAS faced challenges that needed to be addressed. “The chair has resigned. She has given me reasons why she’s resigned and some of those, if further substantiated, may necessitate an investigation … We’ll definitely do so,” said Manamela.
Stander was appointed in February 2025 by Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, the then DHET minister, after the previous board was dissolved by Minister Blade Nzimande and the entity was placed under administration. Aside from the shocking resignation of Stander, NSFAS has been plagued with issues of budget shortfalls despite receiving funds of R13.3-billion to support 34,000 students.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siyabonga Goni at Daily Maverick
- Read too, ‘Her job will be almost untenable’: Nsfas faces concerns after board chair resigns, at The Citizen
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