2023-w3425 - 11 December 2023

Naledi Nokukhanya Chirwa to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

What (a) progress has his department made in relation to the matters that were raised by the students of Tshwane University of Technology, who engaged in protest action demanding (i) accountability for disappearance of funds from student accounts and (ii) that evictions of students from residences cease with immediate effect and (b) are the reasons (i) that monies disappeared and (ii) behind evictions of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme beneficiaries from residences?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 11 Dec 2023

The NSFAS has received various complaints relating to alleged theft of student allowances via the direct payment service platforms. These complaints are being investigated and we are working with the direct payment service providers and law enforcement on resolving the complaints.

The investigation process will reveal what transpired and as such will confirm who should be held accountable for the alleged loss suffered by ...

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2023-w3541 - 11 December 2023

Mandla Shikwambana to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Following the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme over allegations of being involved in irregular appointments of the service providers, what action has been taken against the companies that were wrongfully appointed?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 11 Dec 2023

The NSFAS Board has sought legal advice on steps to take to cancel the impugned tender process. Of the advice received, approaching the High Court on self-review is the most legally astute and will afford all parties to state their cases before the court. NSFAS will abide by the just and equitable order once granted by the court.

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2023-w3540 - 11 December 2023

Mandla Shikwambana to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Following the notice to dissolve the Unisa Council, and taking into consideration that Unisa took the matter to court and interdicted his department, what is the current status of the Unisa Council?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 11 Dec 2023

The Minister has in compliance with the High Court Order retracted the Government Gazette number 49582 Vol 700 dated 27 October 2023, which published the decision to dissolve the UNISA Council and appoint an Administrator, consequent to the UNISA Council remains in office.

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2023-w3513 - 11 December 2023

Sanele Sethembeni Zondo to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Whether his department intends to implement mandatory experiential learning for undergraduate students in fields such as Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice to be stationed in correctional facilities in order to (a) gain experience while pursuing their studies and (b) provide much-needed support in the facilities; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 11 Dec 2023

Universities are responsible for developing qualifications that are aligned to their different missions, visions and strategic directions. Further, the choice of the appropriate form of work integrated learning (WIL) or experiential learning depends on the nature, purpose, outcomes and the NQF level of the qualification. Institutions have the responsibility to ensure that they have sufficient capacity to provide quality assured opportunities for WIL for ...

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2023-w3255 - 24 November 2023

Naledi Nokukhanya Chirwa to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

(a) Which glitches was he referring to when addressing systemic issues at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), (b) how will the systemic issues be resolved, (c) what effect has the systemic issues at NSFAS had on the students funded by NSFAS and (d) by what date does he envisage the systemic issues will be resolved?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 24 Nov 2023

a) Minister was referring to system glitches that were experienced during disbursement processes, there were registration data changes that was requested to be amended. (b) As per these changes that were requested the issue was resolved. (c) Payments to students was delayed by 2 days. (d) The issue was resolved. The system changes were made as requested by stakeholders and actioned. R119 million was ...

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2023-w3256 - 24 November 2023

Naledi Nokukhanya Chirwa to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

What (a) are the demographics of the 45 000 students who were dismissed by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) following application discrepancies, (b) are the reasons that NSFAS was unable to assist applicants in correcting discrepancies during the course of the year and/or in the very beginning of the year, (b) primary issues constitute the majority of the discrepancies in the applications and (d) steps does NSFAS intend to take to resolve the specified issues in future?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 24 Nov 2023

  1. The demographics of the 45 000 students is not immediately available, the Department will ask NSFAS to retrieve the data from its systems.
  2. The discrepancies were only picked up after data remediation which takes place on the 28th March 2023 up to 29th June 2023 and these were only communicated to affected applicants, NSFAS communicated to students on the 10th of July 2023 via ...
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2023-w3801 - 22 November 2023

Sanele Sethembeni Zondo to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Whether his department has the relevant details of the total number of students who (a) registered and (b) graduated in (i) Criminal Justice and/or Law and (ii) Forensic Investigations in the (aa) 2016 and (bb) 2023 academic years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (aaa) what total number of such graduates in each case have been hired by the Government in each province and (bbb) in what positions were they hired?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 22 Nov 2023

The head count enrolment of students in academic years 2016–2022 is displayed in Table 1 below, while graduates for the same period are shown in Table 2. The data relates to students who are enrolled in or have graduated from programmes in criminal justice and related programmes.

The numbers for academic year 2022 in both tables are regarded as preliminary.

We are unable to ...

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2023-w3879 - 22 November 2023

Sophie Suzan Thembekwayo to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

In the wake of the stabbing of a female student from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology by a male student from the University of Cape Town, what (a) urgent steps have been taken to bring the perpetrator to account and (b) measures have been put in place to solve the issue of the lack of security in tertiary institutions?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 22 Nov 2023

a) The perpetrator was apprehended until campus security took him away and he was arrested, meanwhile, the victim was rushed to hospital and had emergency surgery and is currently recovering. The accused appeared in court on attempted murder charges and remains behind bars as he awaits a bail application date.

b) University security heads were invited to workshops, wherein gaps in their security protocols ...

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2023-w3679 - 22 November 2023

Sibongiseni Ngcobo to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

What measures has his department taken to address the lack of adequate infrastructure for teaching and learning in community education and training colleges?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 22 Nov 2023

The Department has started a process of building Community Education and Training (CET) Colleges infrastructure to address the challenges of infrastructure in the sector. One billion rand has been allocated to the Community Colleges for infrastructure over the 2023 MTEF period. The initial plan seeks to build Community Colleges and Community Learning Centres in nine (9) provinces: one in each province. The construction is ...

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2023-w3666 - 22 November 2023

Chantel King to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Whether he has instituted an investigation and/or project management audit during the tenure of a certain person (details furnished) of the Services Sector Education and Training Authority; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 22 Nov 2023

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation is empowered by the Skills Development Act (Act No.97 of 1998) (Act) to perform certain functions, such as Section 14(A) to issue a written instruction if :

(a) the SETA is not performing any of its functions or not complying with its service level agreement;

(b) the SETA is not managing its finances in accordance with ...

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