This comes after the EFF’s provincial secretary, Mandisa Makesini, raised questions about the bursary scheme for students studying abroad and the validity of their qualifications during a sitting of a portfolio committee in the provincial legislature last week. Makgoe says the department has thoroughly selected all China universities in which Free State students are enrolled in. He says the department has confirmed the accreditation of institutions and qualifications offered by these universities.

Makgoe says: “China is a powerhouse. It’s the second biggest economy in the world and therefore has lots of universities. We have actually carefully selected the universities where our children have gone to. We also continuously go there to check and verify and confirm that our children are in proper universities.”

The MEC says he can assure the public that these students will come back with qualifications and invest back in the country. Meanwhile, the EFF provincial leader, Kgotso Morapela, said his party is going to ask that the scheme be investigated.

Katleho Morapela and Cathy Dlodlo/OFM News