Nsfas CEO fired after first day of disciplinary hearing

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) has confirmed that its suspended CEO Steven Zwane has been fired following the first day of his disciplinary hearing into maladministration allegations.

“Following the first day of his disciplinary hearing, Steven Zwane and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) concluded a termination agreement. Zwane’s employment as Executive Officer of Nsfas ended on October 02, 2018. All other aspects of the termination agreement are confidential on both parties,” said Nsfas spokesperson Kagisho Mamabolo on Friday.

Zwane was suspended by the student funding scheme last month over maladministration allegations levelled against him.

His suspension came just 10 months after he was appointed to the post.

Nsfas said at the time Zwane’s suspension was to ensure “fairness” of the investigation into the allegations.

“The Nsfas administrator, Dr Randall Carolissen, is in the process of reviewing governance at Nsfas. This is in line with the ministerial mandate to oversee the management, governance, and administration of the entity. This includes all necessary forensic and other investigations currently underway,” Nsfas said.

Last month, the South African Students’ Congress (Sasco) called on Higher Education and Training Minister Naledi Pandor to fire Zwane over “inefficiencies and lack of leadership” after Nsfas halted 2019 applications that were expected to commence on August 1 due to payment backlogs from 2017 and 2018.

In August, Sizwe Nxasana resigned as Nsfas chairperson and admitted that the student funding scheme payments system had come under extreme strain after former president Jacob Zuma announced last December that students from poor families would receive free higher education.

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