South Africa Vision

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Administrator, Freeman Nomvalo, says the scheme has been able to constantly process payments for all the beneficiaries who have submitted their banking details.

Addressing the media on the developments in the implementation of his mandate on Tuesday, Nomvalo highlighted that one of the urgent interventions made by the new Administrator was to migrate the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) NSFAS beneficiaries into a direct payment system through their banker.

This follows frustrations experienced by students in receiving their allowances.

Nomvalo said from the data received, about 6% of students are not receiving their allowance because they either failed the verification process due to incorrect information they provided, while some did not capture their banking details.

Nomvalo said, despite various efforts made by NSFAS to get these students to capture their banking details, the students have not responded.

‘There are possible two scenar
ios; one that, these students have no means to reach us, possibly the messages did not reach them or regrettably, some of these could be non-existent students. What is more worrying is that to date we have not received complaints from students who may have not received their allowances,’ Nomvalo said.

He said NSFAS will continue to engage with institutions and students to submit their details for their allowances to be paid in the next payment run, while investigating the validity and existence of these students.

On the university payments, Nomvalo reported that the administration has taken a decision to extend the current arrangement with universities facilitating payment of allowances to NSFAS beneficiaries.

He said the arrangement, which follows consultations with the South Africa Universities South Africa (USAF), is extended until the end of the 2024 academic year.

‘This decision arrived in response to USAF and in support of the beneficiaries, as well as the stability of the Post School Education and
Training (PSET) system,’ Nomvalo said.

The Administrator added that the scheme also intends to migrate the university allowances to a more cost effective and efficient payment system.

‘The planning for the migration of universities was halted by the interdict warded in favour of Ezaga and others by the Western Cape High Court on 12 July 2024, which NSFAS is appealing,’ he said.

ICT system delays conclusion of student appeals

Meanwhile, Nomvalo said the delays in finalising student appeals, loans, and the 2023/2024 funded lists, is directly connected to the current NSFAS ICT system.

Nomvalo noted that the only default position at this stage is to constantly introduce a manual process of verification, which is ‘completely cumbersome and over overstretching staff.’

He said in 2023 alone, NSFAS received about two million applications.

‘It is almost impossible to expect NSFAS staff to manually conduct verification of these applications at some point in the value chain [and] such a work environment is undoub
tedly prone to errors,’ Nomvalo said.

He announced that with additional capacity acquired, NSFAS will be communicating with universities, including TVET colleges and students on final lists, not later than end of August 2024.

‘On behalf of NSFAS we wish to express our sincere apologies to the affected students and our colleagues in the PSET system. We are working hard to ensure the 2025 academic year is less burdened with the same issues,’ Nomvalo said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

It is often said that the more things change, the more they stay the same – and to some extent this is true.

In an evolving world, change is a necessity and is accompanied sometimes by pangs of anxiety and the eternal ‘what if’ questions that take up residence rent-free in our minds.

As South Africans, we went through a period of transition with July 30 marking exactly a month since President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the Cabinet of the seventh administration under the Government of National Unity (GNU).

The journey to the seventh administration began at the ballot box at the May 29 elections that resulted in no outright winner at the polls for the political parties.

While citizens wanted their voices to be heard through the ballot, all of us were wondering what the future would hold for a democratic dispensation that was not run by a political party that had obtained an outright majority at the polls. In the immediate future, fears of possible mayhem and violence post the elections have not materialised.

Setting the ball in motion in the proverbial winds of change, was the holding of the first Cabinet Lekgotla where the Ministers, the Deputy President and President sat down to map out the programme of action of government.

A few days later on 18 July, the President delivered the Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) where he outlined the new administration’s key priority areas. These are: driving inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living as well as building a capable, ethical and developmental state.

In announcing these priority areas, the President appealed to the larger South African family to behave as weaver birds who give their all to build and cooperate. He has called on all South Africans to remain committed to pursuing the path of cooperation, growth and inclusion.

The new and returning Ministers and Deputy Ministers have hit the ground running in their respective portfolios having tabled their respective Budget Votes that concluded with the President’s
reply to The Presidency vote on July 24.

And while we all continue to learn the names and faces of the new executive, what is clear is that the work of government continues unhindered, despite having some new captains at the helm of government departments.

The changes have not brought about angst and instability among our people. Instead, the period between the elections up until the setting up of the seventh administration to date, has been characterised by stability we should not take for granted.

And perhaps quite fittingly the changes are taking place in a year that the country celebrates 30 years of freedom and democracy. The change not only tests the strength of our hard-won democracy, but also cements our freedom of choice in who we want to represent us in government and other areas of everyday life.

That freedom of choice has not been muffled or tampered with but has been taken seriously by the government of the day.

Attesting to this, the first citizen in replying to the Presidency Budget Vote s
aid: ‘Above all, let us show that government will work for the people and that we can create a new era of growth and prosperity in our country.’

While it is still early days for the GNU, what has been clear for all to see is that there has been a sense of continuity in the operations of government, which is crucial in the creation of a better life for all as well as moving the country forward.

Just as human beings are constantly growing and evolving, change is constant but what remains is that the founding provisions of the Constitution of the republic founded on universal adult suffrage, a national common voters roll, regular elections and a multi-party system of democratic government, to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness among some of its values, still rings true, albeit the speed bumps along the way.

The Constitution as the supreme law of the land which cannot be superseded by any other law or government action, still lives and breathes for all of South Africa’s people.

Its supremacy h
as not changed and in an era of change, may its tenets to put South Africa’s people first, never fall.

Source: South African Government News Agency

As part of Women’s Month celebrations, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) together with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) will host a panel discussion on 30 years of women excellence in community media.

Themed ’30 Years of Women Excellence in Community Media Sector,’ Thursday’s panel discussion under the Annual Women in Media and Communication flagship project, brings together women in the community media sector to share their experiences and reflect on how they have overcome certain barriers and progressed to make a success of their careers.

The project aims to advance issues affecting women in the media and community media sector since 2019.

The 2024 Women’s Month coincides with the country’s commemoration of 30 years of freedom and democracy, making this year’s Women’s Month an important juncture for collective reflection on how the country has empowered and advanced the rights of women in our democratic journey.

This year’s Women’s Month commemoration held under the th
eme: ‘Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy Towards Women’s Development,’ marks the 68th anniversary of the historic march, where more than 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.

The panel discussion will be held at Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria Campus.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) will be hosting roadshows across the country to engage directly with the landlords affected by outstanding payments of student accommodation allowances.

NSFAS Administrator, Freeman Nomvalo, said that in response to accommodation providers’ concerns, NSFAS has in the past two months processed bulk catch up payments of accommodation allowances for all legitimate claims.

Nomvalo said that as at 31 July 2024, NSFAS disbursements for private student accommodation had reached R1 billion.

However, Nomvalo acknowledged that there are some landlords who still remain aggrieved.

The important issue to be addressed now is to ensure that all payments are done on time as this is the main remaining ‘pain point for accommodation providers.’

The Administrator announced that the roadshows will kick off in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, 07 August 2024.

‘I will be taking all critical functions responsible for student data and private student accommodation. I have also extende
d invitations to our colleagues at universities and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, to ensure we all work together in resolving these challenges experienced by our beneficiaries and the landlords,’ Nomvalo said.

In response to the challenges and stabilising the organisation, Nomvalo highlighted some of the projects that have been launched, including the Organisational Re-engineering and Re-alignment Project; ICT and Business Processing Review Project; making NSFAS accessible to students and stakeholders; and planning for 2025 and beyond.

‘The conclusion of Organisational Re-engineering and Re-alignment Project will result into a new resource allocation model fit for the purpose and function of the size and shape of NSFAS. It will also provide a greater alignment of functions to improve the efficiency of NSFAS.

‘The conclusion of the ICT and Business Processing Review Project will deliver a more efficient ICT system that provides for a seamless interface and data sharing between N
SFAS and its key stakeholders including universities and TVET’s. The newly envisaged system is also intended to improve the management of applications for bursaries, loans, and appeals,’ Nomvalo said.

He said a feasibility study is intended to consider various regionalisation models and cost implications looking at the location of beneficiaries.

‘The appointed team will also be engaging with the PSET (Post School Education and Training) stakeholders to determine the most feasible model. The intention is to make NSFAS more accessible and responsive to its stakeholders,’ Nomvalo said.

Alleged procurement irregularities

The Administrator announced that NSFAS is following up on various alleged procurement irregularities, including the direct payment mechanism.

Nomvalo acknowledged the support provided by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) regarding this issue.

‘To address capacity challenges in the Procurement Unit, I am currently engaged with the National Treasury with the intention of drawing in a secon
dment from Treasury for the period of six months to also help us with the review of SCM (Supply chain management) policies, as well as procurement processes at NSFAS,’ Nomvalo said.

Fruitless and wasteful expenditure registers

The Administrator further announced that the scheme has put measures in place for the 2024/25 financial year, to implement the irregular expenditure and fruitless and wasteful expenditure registers.

‘We will also implement the non-compliance register. These registers will not only ensure compliance with the PFMA (Public Finance Management Act) but will also enhance transparency on the use of public resources by NSFAS,’ Nomvalo said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Presidential District Development Model (DDM) Izimbizo are a priority for the seventh administration, as President Cyril Ramaphosa has identified local government as a priority focus area of the Government of National Unity.

This is according to Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, who briefed media at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday on the President’s engagement diary.

He said government has an obligation to interact and communicate with citizens in all corners of the country.

‘With the Government of National Unity, this has become more urgent so that all citizens can understand how the new administration is working for them,’ he said.

The Presidential DDM Izimbizo have been held since 2019 after President Ramaphosa indicated that he would like to visit South Africa’s 44 district municipalities and eight metropolitan municipalities.

Magwenya said the Izimbizo – which are attended by all Cabinet members – affords ordinary citizens a platform to voice their challenges and to hear f
rom those that lead government on a national, provincial and local level.

‘The Izimbizo is more than just a feel-good or gig for the President and the Cabinet. It is about identifying a district in conjunction with the provincial governments. Once a district has been identified, the various spheres of government come together, different workstreams are established to drive the process that is coordinated by the political champion.

‘A few days before the actual Imbizo, Ministers and Deputy Ministers are deployed to the district to inspect their respective programmes. New projects are identified. On the day of the Imbizo, the President is accompanied by the Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Premiers, Members of provincial governments, Mayors and Councillors and the community engages them. It does get heated at times and emotional,’ Magwenya said.

He highlighted that public participation in the country has been a hallmark of South African culture since the dawn of democracy 30 years ago.

‘Public participation is
intrinsically part of the DNA of the democratic South Africa. To be exact, it was initiated by the Constitutional Assembly in 1994 to consult and keep South Africans abreast of the Constitution writing process.

‘It is against this background that the President can assert that the Presidential Izimbizo and the public participation programmes are not political gimmicks of the current and previous administrations.

‘Neither is it an extravagant exercise and wasteful expenditure of taxpayers’ money. But it is a caring government which is engaging its citizens across the political divide.

‘It started in 1994 and it is entrenched in the South African public discourse. It has evolved from former President’s to today’s public participation programme of the Presidential Izimbizo under the banner of the [DDM],’ he said.

At the briefing Magwenya hit back at critics of the izimbizo. This after recent reports claimed that government had spent at least R44 million on hosting four Izimbizo over the past 18 months.

While
he conceded that hosting an Imbizo could be costly at times ‘all the officials involved must ensure that procurement processes are conducted within the prescripts of the Public Finance Management Act’.

‘Yes, critics will point out the high cost of DDMs and they will motivate how the money could have been utilised elsewhere. Indeed, one cannot quantify the impact of the Presidential Izimbizo in monetary terms, but it should be measured over the medium to long-term of what changes such events will bring to communities.

‘It is mischievous to reduce the Presidential Izimbizo to Rands and Cents. It is about a caring government that is closer to the people, ensuring their right to access to basic services is solidified.’

Source: South African Government News Agency

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, has insisted that, given South Africa’s – and Africa’s – historical past of discrimination and under development of parts of the population, it is imperative to ‘demystify science and its purposes and meaning to the lives of all people, especially the most marginalised’.

He was addressing the opening of the 32nd General Assembly of the International Astronomy Union (IAU) in Cape Town on Tuesday evening.

‘Astronomy offers such an amazing opportunity to naturalise and indigenise scientific thinking within all our communities. Therefore, it is most fitting that this event will have Open Access features online, to generate scientific interest from the wider public.

‘Young people have been appointed as volunteers for this event while others will be presenting their research posters, the General Assembly [GA] satellite viewing sites across Africa and astronomy ambassadors programme that has been launched throughout the continent as one of
the legacy projects post the General Assembly,’ Nzimande said.

On a continental scale, the Minister said it was in the interests of the international community to ‘broaden the participation of the African continent in astronomical sciences’.

‘I would also like to recognise the efforts made by the IAU Office for Astronomy Development [OAD] and the African Astronomical Society [AfAS], both based in Cape Town in supporting other African countries to take advantage of opportunities in astronomy.

‘We also see this Assembly as an opportunity for raising awareness of the IAU within the African science community and encouraging the emergence and professional development of the next generation African scientists.

‘The Organising Committee of the 2024 GA has also announced that over 3000 abstracts were submitted, which is an impressive number for such an event and certainly offers an opportunity to share new sources of data and evidence to test through experimental work the explanatory value of the theoretical mode
ls developed in recent years,’ he said.

A leading light

Minister Nzimande told the general assembly that government’s vision for South African astronomy is to become a ‘global hub for astronomical sciences and facilities as articulated in our National Strategy for Multiwavelength Astronomy of 2015’.

‘The strategy provides a framework to take maximum advantage of South Africa’s historical strengths in astronomy, its geographical advantage of clear southern skies in the Karoo, the engineering and scientific base, large-scale investments in the MeerKAT/SKA endeavour and SALT [Southern African Large Telescope], and South Africa’s growing international ranking and partnerships in astronomy.

‘This strategy is currently under review in consultation with the astronomy community so that it can be enhanced in order to take advantage of new opportunities in this era of multi-messenger techniques and technological innovations.

‘The MeerKAT/SKA project, in particular, offers us an opportunity to contribute to the kno
wledge economy and the big data revolution through international collaborations and the pursuit of world-class research, thereby driving transformation and human capacity development. The SKA is the flagship frontier science partnership of the 21st century and South African remains fully committed to it,’ he said.

The Minister revealed that the department is working with the Department of Tourism to develop an ‘astro-tourism sector through community-public-private partnerships in remote parts of South Africa’.

‘We are looking forward to the approval of our newly established Astro-Tourism Strategy by Cabinet in the next few months.

‘[Tourism] Minister Patricia de Lille and I will soon be co-hosting the Annual World Tourism Day in Carnarvon on 27 September 2024 – and this event will provide us with a unique opportunity to promote the preservation of dark skies and radio silence in the Karoo as this is essential for star-gazing and astro-tourism to thrive and to create jobs,’ Minister Nzimande said.

Source:
South African Government News Agency