The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has decided to remove its CEO Andile Nongogo.

NSFAS’ board chairperson, Ernest Khoza, told the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on Tuesday morning (24/10) that a decision had been taken on Monday evening (23/10) to axe Nongogo. This decision comes after he was suspended from the organisation due to findings of conflict of interest, which included a payment scandal amounting to R47 billion. Before he was fired, he was asked to appear before the board to table reasons why he shouldn’t be fired.

A report on the investigation conducted by Werkmans Attorneys and advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi has unveiled various anomalies in the scheme's functioning. It was found that Nongogo, who is no longer in a position of authority, was involved in the appointment of four companies entrusted with the task of disbursing monthly stipends of R1,650 to more than a million students nationwide, which was the previous payment procedure.

Four companies responsible for directly paying NSFAS beneficiaries were named in an investigative report, which was handed over to Minister Blade Nzimande on 17 October 2023. Tenet Technologies is one of the firms embroiled in the conflict of interest within the R47 billion NSFAS payment scandal. The company has since threatened to take the state to court should its contract be terminated.

OFM News/Tshehla Koteli