Chairperson, hon Minister, we thank you for the response given. However, we want to emphasise that the ANC has identified education as one of its priorities in its manifesto, and access to higher education by deserving students, in particular, is its main focus.
We urge the department, accordingly, to prioritise this matter in order to ease the burden on poor households regarding the overall cost of higher education. The portfolio committee's recent oversight visits to the areas of Giyani, Muyexe, amongst other areas, exposed the members to the urgent need for us to attend to this challenge facing our students.
Higher education institutions should be monitored closely to ensure that the implementation of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, is fair, consistent and efficient, as is required. Thank you.