Author: The Bulrushes

Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Minister Professor Blade Nzimande has fired the board of the National Student Financial Scheme (NSAS) over delayed fund payments to students. In a terse statement late Thursday, the Department of Higher Education said Professor Nzimande had earlier in the day met with the NSFAS board. “The purpose of the meeting was to communicate the minister’s decision to dissolve the FSAS board with immediate effect and place the institution under administration,” the statement said. “The legal effect of the decision will be communicated tomorrow through the government gazette.” RELATED: Delayed April Funds: eZaga Blames NSFAS, University Of…

The Supreme Court of Appeals on Tuesday granted former president Jacob Zuma’s appeal against the IEC ruling that had sought to bar him from being on the ballot for 29 May elections. Zuma was convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to 15 months in jail. However, he had argued that even though the law prevents anyone sentenced to 12 months or more from being on the ballot he has received a remission of his sentence from President Cyril Ramaphosa. In the ruling, the Supreme Court of Appeals in Bloemfontein said: “The application for leave to appeal is granted”. The…

The high court in Pretoria on Tuesday ruled against National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s urgent interdict to prevent her arrest for allegedly accepting kickbacks from a contractor when she was minister of defence. In her ruling, Judge Sulet Potterill said acceding to Mapisa-Nqaula’s request would “open the floodgates” for suspects wanting to avoid arrest. “There are no grounds set out as to why this should be done, except that the applicant’s standing in society and her dignity.” “The NDPP [National Director of Public Prosecutions] has stated under oath that her attorney can take her to the Lyttleton Police Station and the…

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday lost its bid in the High Court in Pretoria to have the African National Congress (ANC) cadre deployment declared unlawful. Delivering its judgment, the High Court threw out the case brought by the DA requesting it to declare that the ANC cadre deployment “unconstitutional and unlawful”. The case was argued before a full bench of judges on 23 and 24 January 2023, when judgment was reserved. In its ruling, the court stated: “It follows that there is nothing unconstitutional about a political party influencing the policy direction of a government, including the appointment of…

The auction of personal items belonging to former SA president Nelson Mandela remains in doubt because a bid to appeal the high court ruling giving the go-ahead has been launched. Last month, Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe won a two-year legal battle against the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), which took the matter to court in a bid to stop the auction. The court dismissed SAHRA’s interdict application citing a lack of evidence to support assertions that the items to be auctioned were heritage objects as envisaged in the Heritage Act. However, Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Goodenough Zizi Kodwa on…

The South African Post Office (SAPO), which is under business rescue, has begun the process of retrenching thousands of workers including postmen, drivers, retail staff, and managers. The troubled post office has written to employees and union leaders to inform them of the possibility of retrenchment. The notice of possible termination of jobs due to operational requirements was sent out on 31 December 2023. While the employees and unions were invited to consult, the disclosures made by SAPO, which was placed under business rescue last year on 10 July, paint a bleak picture. The SA Post Office has not been…

eZaga Holdings (eZaga), one of the four fintech providers selected by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), on Wednesday rejected accusations by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) that it paid kickbacks to secure a contract. OUTA has accused Higher Education Minister Dr. Blade Nzimande and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board chairperson Ernest Khosa of being involved in corruption. OUTA recently released voice recordings of two meetings between Khosa and a service provider representative, revealing how service providers allegedly paid millions of rand to Minister Nzimande and Khosa in kickbacks for tenders. Both Minister Nzimande and…

The fired National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) CEO Andile Nongogo has failed in his bid to persuade the Labour Court to declare his dismissal unlawful. The court decision was delivered by Judge MB Mahalelo of the Labour Court, on Monday, (8 January 2024) Commenting on the matter on Tuesday, the Board of NSFAS said it “welcomes the Labour Court’s decision to declare the termination of the contract of employment of the former NSFAS CEO Mr. Andile Nongogo as lawful and valid”. The NSFAS Board said it “further welcomes” the court’s dismissal, with costs, of the application by Nongogo to…

The alleged “holiday swindler” Francois Swart has been arrested, brought before a court, and granted bail, AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit revealed on Tuesday. AfriForum said the law has finally caught up with the travel agency boss months after criminal complaints were filed against him. Johannesburg – The alleged “holiday swindler” Francois Swart has been arrested, brought before a court, and granted bail, AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit revealed on Tuesday. AfriForum said the law has finally caught up with the travel agency boss months after criminal complaints were filed against him. RELATED: Travel Fraud: Warrant Of Arrest Issued For Francois Swart MD…

A 37-year-old female Home Affairs official in Upington, Northern Cape, accused of unlawfully dishing out SA Identity Documents to foreign nationals for cash has been arrested and put behind bars. The SA Police Service (SAPS) Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigating Unit (ACIU) arrested the Home Affairs official for alleged corruption on Wednesday, (3 January 2024). The arrest came after ACIU followed up on information that the official was illegally processing SA Identity Documents for undocumented foreign nationals in Upington for a fee. SAPS Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock said: “The police executed a successful action and caught the suspect red-handed at her office.…