The Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande has rubbished claims linking him to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme corruption allegations, refusing to resign despite threats of criminal charges being laid against him. The Democratic Alliance (DA) insists that they will open a criminal case against Nzimande and demand that the whole NSFAS board be dissolved.

A few days ago, the organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) leaked multiple recordings claiming that there's a corruption syndicate running within the Department of Higher Education and NSFAS. Outa claimed that the SACP, Nzimande and NSFAS board chair Ernest Khosa were given millions in bribes by service providers given tenders to make direct payments to tertiary student accounts.

DA leader John Steenhuisen said his party will mobilise students at various tertiary campuses across South Africa to force President Cyril Ramaphosa to get rid of Nzimande. "When a minister commits corruption or undermines the cabinet, it is the job of a real leader to deal with that person decisively. President Ramaphosa cannot outsource that responsibility to some toothless committee populated by ANC cadres, many of whom are just as tainted as the person they are supposed to investigate. The NSFAS board must also be declared delinquent over the corrupt and irrational direct payment and student accommodation tenders," said Steenhuisen. He added," This legal action is in keeping with the findings of the State Capture Commission, which made a clear recommendation that it should become standard practice to declare board members, involved in capture and corruption, as delinquent."

Nzimande held a media briefing to address the allegations tabled against him, his party SACP and Khosa. "As I have said, I'm seriously looking at my own rights that are being violated in this process of being faced with allegations that are spurious." Nzimande said he would have an urgent meeting with the NSFAS board to discuss these allegations. "I'm not going to resign. Why should I resign? I have no need to resign," he said.