EFF notes the leave of absence taken by NSFAS Board Chairperson Ernest Khoza following revelations of fraud, corruption and mismanagement of state funds
11 January 2024
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the leave of absence from the National Students' Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) by Board Chairperson Ernest Khoza, following the damning revelations of his collusion with NSFAS service providers to receive kickbacks and subvert investigative processes into mismanagement of state funds.
Khoza was exposed in recent audio recordings as having side-dealings with service providers to NSFAS, in collusion with the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Blade Nzimande. Amongst other revelations which revealed a nefarious relationship between Khoza and service providers, it was revealed that Khoza sought to appoint a legal firm that he will be able to control, in the investigations into the awarding of the tenders for the cashless-payment systems.
This plot to appoint a legal entity that he could control, was contrived with one of the service providers of NSFAS, revealing a glaring conflict of interest and subverting of accountability. It is within these recordings, that it is revealed that Blade Nzimande utilized the SACP as an avenue to receive kick-backs to the tune of RI million, ostensibly to ensure the protection of the contracts of certain service providers.
On the 09th of January 2024, the EFF, through Member of Parliament and Member of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology Mandla Shikwambana opened a case of fraud, corruption and mismanagement of state funds against both Ernest Khoza and Blade Nzimande at Nelspruit Police Station, Mpumalanga. The case number is CAS 107/1/2024.