OUTA ready to discuss graft claims with Nzimande
The civic organisation says it would be happy to meet with the higher education minister to discuss its damning claims against him.
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) says it stands by the report and leaked audio recordings that place Minister Blade Nzimande and the National Student Fund Aid Scheme (Nsfas) board chairperson Ernest Khosa at the centre of alleged corruption at the student fund.
Speaking at a media briefing in Tshwane on Monday, Nzimande said he was speaking with his lawyers to decide what legal steps he should take, adding that this would include calling on Outa to reveal of the evidence it has to substantiate their allegations.
Responding to the minister’s statement, Outa spokesperson Rudie Heyneke said they look forward to meeting with Nzimande.
“We heed the call of the minister and invite him to meet with Outa so that we can discuss this. We also learned that next week there’s a meeting between law enforcement agencies and Nsfas, and we would welcome an invitation to attend that meeting.”
Heyneke dismissed Nzimande’s claim that the accusations against him were meant to disrupt the fund’s readiness for the start of the academic year.
The minister has accused the organisation of being anti-working class and elitist.
“We take exception to the remarks of the minister in that respect. I think our work proves that we are working for everybody in South Africa who has been affected by corruption. We are not working for the elite.
“I think it was very careless of the minister to make such an allegation.”
Nzimande said he would be meeting with the Nsfas board on Wednesday to discuss the matter amid growing calls for his resignation and for the board to be declared delinquent.
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