LEARNING CURVEBALL: EFF to march on higher education department as pressure mounts on Minister Manamela
The EFF is demanding Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela’s resignation over what it calls a ‘mess-up’ at NSFAS, and will march on the department’s Pretoria offices on 18 September.
The African National Congress's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will march on the Higher Education and Training department in Pretoria on September 18 to demand the resignation of Minister Buti Manamela. The protest follows a Gauteng High Court order for Manamela to reinstate seven NSFAS board members dismissed under his administration, citing procedural flaws and describing Mathebula's conduct as bizarre.
EFF MP Sihle Lonzi argues that Manamela's handling of NSFAS issues, such as defunding, student accommodation problems, and middleman schemes, must end. The EFF's legal battle with Manamela has expanded, involving boards, interim board chairpersons, and the Auditor-General's findings of irregular appointments at 15 Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas).
The Department of Higher Education and Training spokesman, Matshepo Seedat, acknowledges the right to protest but maintains that the minister remains focused on stabilising NSFAS, strengthening governance, and ensuring students receive the services they are entitled to.
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