Johannesburg – The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] says it was taken by surprise by Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela’s move to place the National Student Financial Aid Scheme [NSFAS] under administration.
Announcing the appointment of an administrator for NSFAS on Monday, 4 May 2026, Minister Manamela said all necessary considerations, including consultations with stakeholders, had been taken into account.
However, NEHAWU disputed the minister’s pronouncements.
“As a major stakeholder and a union of our calibre in the post-schooling and training sector, more in particular, at NSFAS, we find it totally unacceptable that the minister did not consult us pertaining to such a major decision of the Scheme,” the union said in a statement made available to The Bulrushes.
“As NEHAWU, we expected the minister to consult the union before arriving at such a major decision.”
Minister Manamela said he opted to place NSAFS under administration, rather than filling board vacancies, after recent resignations and governance shortcomings.
RELATED: NSFAS Board Rocked By Resignations – The Bulrushes
“I was not satisfied that continued Board-led governance, in the prevailing circumstances, would provide the level of assurance required to restore institutional stability, protect students and safeguard public resources,” the minister said.
He also announced that Professor Hlengani Mathebula has been appointed as Administrator.
It was the third time that NSFAS was being placed under administration.
This time around, the union took a different stance regarding resolving the matter by appointing an administrator.
“Had the minister consulted the union, we would have shared our experiences with previous administrators of the scheme,” NEHAWU said
“In fact, the scheme finds itself in the current quagmire as a result of previous administrators, who plunged the scheme into a deplorable state of governance and administration.”
The union, however, acknowledged that NSFAS has been confronted with a myriad of challenges stemming from the rampant scourge of maladministration, poor governance, and administration.
“As NEHAWU, we have been constant in highlighting these issues, which have collapsed governance at NSFAS.
“Indeed, the previous administrators failed to stabilise and put in place proper systems.
“Instead, we witnessed decay and rot at the scheme, which was characterised by maladministration, financial irregularities, human resources failures, weak ICT environment, culture of fear, intimidation and bullying, questionable Management decisions, amongst others.”
NEHAWU said following the resignations of board members, it called on the minister to work with all stakeholders, such as itself, to ensure that the scheme is stable and functional.
“We are dismayed that the minister has gone and announced the appointment of an administrator without consulting us on the process to stabilise NSFAS,” the union said.
NEHAWU demanded that the minister urgently re-examine his posture towards important stakeholders at NSFAS.
“Lastly, we want to categorically say to Minister Manamela that you undermine NEHAWU at your peril, and you shall see the might of this red and militant national union.”
