Higher Education Minister Refutes Corruption Allegations Over NSFAS Deals

South Africa's Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology has denied his involvement in corruption activities after being accused of receiving kickbacks from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

Minister Blade Nzimande and the South African Communist Party (SACP), of which he is a member," are accused of engaging with NSFAS board chairperson Ernest Khosa in order to receive substantial kickbacks.

The allegations against the minister were made by the Organization Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), noting that he has been using the department's money to fund his political party. The minister responded to the allegations Monday and called it a smear campaign to ruin his reputation.

"It's like if you're a minister, some gossips that are taking place all over the place, people just take that, throw at you and because you're a minister it's going to stick," Nzimande was quoted as saying by EWN. "As I have said, I'm seriously looking at my own rights that are being violated in this process of being faced with allegations that are spurious," he added.

Nzimande went on to assure the people of South Africa that as a minister of higher education, science and innovation, he has never used the department's money to fund his political party as claimed by OUTA.

"Nor have I received personal kickbacks from the service providers to NSFAS or other entities falling under my departments," he added, Times Live reported. "I dismiss this baseless insinuation by Outa, some organizations, including some sections of the media, that I as minister was involved in corruption at NSFAS."

The minister said that he will be fighting legally in this matter, noting that "these are lies that emanate from a malicious fightback campaign" and his "conscience is clear," hence he has nothing to hide or fear.

The Democratic Alliance, another political party, has asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to probe the allegations, while Nzimande said that he is ready to cooperate with the investigation over corruption claims.

"My fight against corruption and maladministration dates back since the appointment of the administrator at NSFAS where disciplinary processes were initiated against some employees after the discovery of wrongdoing and financial misconduct by employees," he said.

The minister added that he has supported the NSFAS board's initiatives to deal with "ghost students who were benefiting from the scheme irregularly."