Leadership mess at R54 billion state-run scheme

• The Pretoria High Court has suspended Professor Hlengani Mathebula's appointment as administrator of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), restoring the seven remaining members of the NSFAS board to their positions, pending a final review.
• The court ruling comes after Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela initially dissolved the board in May 2026 due to concerns about its structure and the scheme's financial issues, which have grown from R2.5 billion in 2018 to around R15 billion.
• The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has welcomed the court decision, stating that it confirms their concerns about unnecessary administration and could have been avoided, while Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has criticized NSFAS management and called for more efficient use of funds.