Civil rights organisation AfriForum said the referral of its Public Protector’s (PP’s) complaint on National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) corruption to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is a positive development and a step closer to justice.

The organisation noted that to avoid multiple investigations and conflicting results, the Public Protector had now referred its complaint to the SIU under Proclamation R88.

In terms of this proclamation, the SIU is authorised by the President to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration at NSFAS, said AfriForum Campaign Officer on Corruption Charné Mostert.

“The recent announcement regarding the progress the SIU is making in its other investigations into NSFAS is a hopeful sign and clearly shows the cracks in the scheme’s management of funds – aspects that also come to the fore in AfriForum’s complaint,” explains Mostert.

AfriForum lodged a formal complaint with the PP regarding allegations of corruption involving former Minister of Higher Education Dr Blade Nzimande, and former NSFAS board chairperson Ernest Khosa.

In its complaint to the PP, AfriForum asked that the allegations of corruption, which were revealed in a report by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), be investigated.

Mostert said on Thursday the organisation received a letter from the PP, confirming the transfer of the civil rights organisation’s complaint to the SIU.

“In the letter, it is stated that the complaint lodged with the PP relates to “issues that are being investigated by SIU relating to alleged corruption, maladministration and mismanagement of funds at NSFAS”, she explained.

Mostert pointed out that alleged corruption within NSFAS undermines Section 29(1)(b) of the Constitution, which he said guaranteed the right to accessible further education through reasonable State measures.

“The alleged corruption at NSFAS deprives many disadvantaged students of further education. These young people depend on NSFAS allowances, not on NSFAS corruption,” she added.

In addition to this complaint, AfriForum submitted an application in terms of the Promotion to Access of Information Act to NSFAS and requested, among other things, the records of agreements entered into between NSFAS and the four service providers who were awarded the bid for the provision of direct payments of allowances to NSFAS beneficiaries – Coinvest Africa, Tenet Technology, Ezaga Holdings, and Norraco Corporation.

AfriForum also requested a copy of the contract awarded to Vision Wave. Vision Wave, of which Nzimande’s adviser, Tilson Manyoni, is the managing director, was awarded an NSFAS tender of R44-million in 2022.