Nzimande denies he is out of touch with student issues
Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has sent his condolences to the 35-year-old man who was shot and killed during the Wits student protest in Braamfontein on Wednesday morning.
The minister was responding to a question in the National Assembly on Wednesday afternoon.
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He told MPs that the exact circumstances which led to the man’s death is under investigation.
Nzimande also dismissed claims that he is out of touch.
"Every problem that I receive, whether it is an appeal from a parent or a student, I have the machinery to deal with it.
"So does NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme), it has all the machinery that I have insisted they be put in place, including appeal processes.
"Give me a list of students who have problems and have not been responded to either by my department or NSFAS.
"I can promise you I will follow that up and give you a response in no time. The reason you cannot do that, is because you are grandstanding," said the minister.
Nzimande reassured Parliament that 95% of the students that would be enrolled by Wits for the 2021 academic year have already been registered.
