Parliament, Wednesday, 20 May 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has today unanimously agreed to reconvene the meeting with the Minister of Higher Education and Training on his decision to place the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) under administration.
The committee deliberated on committee Chairperson Mr Tebogo Letsie’s decision to postpone the meeting scheduled for 19 May 2026. This meeting collapsed after the committee did not receive the relevant documentation in time to prepare. Committee members agreed that Mr Letsie had no choice but to postpone the meeting after the Minister of Higher Education, Mr Buti Manamela, failed to provide the committee with the presentations on the issue.
The committee further agreed that no meeting had been cancelled via a WhatsApp message, as the Chairperson had written a formal letter to all committee members informing them of his decision and his engagement on the matter with the Chair of Chairs.
The committee has recommended that the next meeting be held on Friday, 29 May 2026. Committee members also called for the timeous delivery of documentation about the appointment of the NSFAS administrator, so they can prepare for the meeting effectively.
The committee said that, in terms of Parliament’s accountability framework, the Minister has to appear before the committee to account for his decision on NSFAS and the process followed.
The committee further accepted NSFAS’s explanation that it could not incur travel costs for former board members, as they no longer hold office and there may be no legal or policy basis for such expenditure on their behalf.
The committee said the meeting is of utmost importance, as it affects millions of students and the broader higher education sector.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING, MR TEBOGO LETSIE.
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