Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology says it will probe allegations of procurement irregularities in relation to the controversial National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) laptops tender.
The probe, according to the portfolio committee, forms part of an oversight inquiry into the administration and management at NSFAS.
The committee announced its decision during a meeting with NSFAS administrator Dr Randall Carolissen, regarding allegations of maladministration and corruption brought before it by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union.
According to the committee, it resolved that past allegations of irregularities in the procurement of laptops by NSFAS as part of saving the 2020 academic year must be interrogated as part of the oversight inquiry.
The procurement of laptops is part of COVID-19 relief efforts by government to assist students during the lockdown period, with the state promising to procure laptops for all NSFAS-qualifying students in universities and TVET colleges.
However, the process has been marred by controversy since it was announced, and students are yet to receive the laptops to aid their studies.
In August, allegations emerged that there were attempts to manipulate the procurement processes of the laptops, resulting in the prolonged delay in getting the devices into the hands of students.
At the time, committee chairperson Philly Mapulane bemoaned the delay, saying the procurement of laptops for NSFAS students is part of government's strategy to facilitate multi-modal remote learning and teaching methodologies in order to save the 2020 academic year.
Following the corruption allegations, the tender was cancelled, with Carolissen announcing the procurement process will be started afresh.
The winning bidders of the new tender are yet to be announced.
In addition to investigating the laptops saga, the portfolio committee has indicated it will probe the recruitment policies and procedures at NSFAS.
In a statement, Mapulane said: “Of grave concern to the committee was the admission by the administrator that he passed on the CVs of some of the persons to human resources. We do take note of the denial by the administrator that he was not personally involved in the appointment of some of his acquaintances and friends; however, when you pass on the CV as the administrator to your subordinate, the subliminal message to the person receiving the CV is that you must appoint this person. You may not have said it in your own words, but the message is loud and clear to your subordinate receiving a CV from you of what your intention is. Ultimately, it is the administrator who is finally the authority responsible for the employment of staff at the agency.”
The committee also condemned the alleged action of attempting to charge an employee for appearing before the committee of Parliament. “We wish to remind NSFAS that witnesses appearing before Parliament are protected in terms of section 16 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, 2004. Anybody who attempts to subvert the oversight work of Parliament by intimidating witnesses invited by it will not be left unattended.”
Share