Minister pledges consequence management over irregularities in student accommodation

Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane affirmed her commitment to implementing consequence management for those implicated in irregularities in the provision of student accommodation at universities.

Responding to questions in the National Council of Provinces, Nkabane said her department has received concerns following investigations that took place within the department.

“We have had engagements with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) where it took us into confidence on issues that they flagged as irregularities.

“Among them is funding of ghost students in student accommodation,” she said.

Nkabane was responding to DA MP, who noted that 80,000 students received benefits although they did not qualify for National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funds and these funds should have been made available for student accommodation.

The minister said NFSAS was looking at a turn-around strategy to focus on ICT infrastructure.

“If we don’t have proper system within the sector, we are going to face those challenges,” she said.

Nkabane said the SIU was working with NSFAS on the matter.

“We will ensure there is consequence management to all those who are implicated in those irregularities,” she said.

Earlier, Nkabane said the department was implementing large student housing projects using funding from the National Treasury’s Budget Facility for Infrastructure and Debt Funding from the Development Bank of Southern Africa and development financing institutions (DFIs) to deal with challenges regarding the provision of student accommodation.

She said between 2021 and 2024 the department delivered 9,721 beds through phase one with University of Fort Hare, Nelson Mandela Metro University, University of Western Cape, Vaal University of Technology and North West University benefiting.

Phase two of the project will benefit Gert Sibande TVET College, Majuba TVET and Tshwane University of Technology.

There were currently 6,500 beds that were under construction with 2,000 at Sefako Makgato University and 4,500 at the University of Limpopo.

Nkabane said her department has submitted a BFI application for funding to the National Treasury for 10,407 beds that were being planned for Lephalale, Sekhukune, Vhembe, Central University of Technology, Walter Sisulu University and Northlink TVET College.

She said following the accreditation of student accommodation services providers, in 2024 universities will take over the management and administration of private accommodation for students.

Meanwhile, Sport, Art and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie hit back at DA MP Nicholas Gotsell for suggesting that the ANC, EFF and Patriotic Alliance coalition in Johannesburg Metro had neglected the Johannesburg library and art gallery.

McKenzie said the DA had held the mayorship position in Tshwane for six years and raked up R6 billion in irregular expenditure.

“The Good Hope Centre is now being sold here in the Western Cape while there is no theatre that is state-owned. Let us not throw stones if we live in glass houses,” he said.

McKenzie said the Tshwane and Johannesburg metros had been 'messed up by the DA'.

“We are fixing stuff now, be patient. We have given you six years to mess up, gives us three years to fix it for you. We are getting there,” he said.

Asked about plans to improve sports infrastructure and facilities at grassroot levels and school sport, especially in areas that have been previously disadvantaged, McKenzie said construction, refurbishment, rehabilitation maintenance of sport and recreational facilities was a constitutional responsibility of local government.

He said his department has been funding municipalities from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant, which was used for other purposes by the councils.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za