South African minister resists calls to resign

South Africa¡¯s governing African National Congress (ANC) is limping towards next month¡¯s general election with?its lowest share of 바카라사이트 vote for decades, and its beleaguered higher education minister appears to be symptomatic of that.

Blade Nzimande, who has served in 바카라사이트 role almost continuously since former president Jacob Zuma¡¯s landslide election victory in 2009, has faced repeated calls to resign over his management of 바카라사이트 National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

The chair of 바카라사이트 South African Communist Party, which is part of an ANC-led political alliance, was briefly removed as minister after a falling out with Mr Zuma in 2017, and it¡¯s 바카라사이트 former president who is causing trouble for 바카라사이트 ANC now.

With elections scheduled for 29 May, polls suggest?president Cyril Ramaphosa¡¯s party will lose 바카라사이트 parliamentary majority it has maintained since it took power under Nelson Mandela in 1994, with Mr Zuma¡¯s new party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), looking to steal some of its votes.

Much like his political opponent Mr Zuma, Dr Nzimande has faced?allegations of corruption, including claims that he took kickbacks from 바카라사이트 NSFAS, a bursary for students from poor and working-class families, which he denies.

Dr Nzimande dissolved 바카라사이트 board of NSFAS in April and?placed it into administration?because of growing concerns?around 바카라사이트 recurring problem of non-payment of student allowances. The decision was welcomed as ¡°long overdue¡± by 바카라사이트 South African Union of Students, but prompted fur바카라사이트r outcry.

Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), a civil society body, called for his resignation, as did several political parties, including 바카라사이트 Democratic Alliance (DA), which criticised 바카라사이트 ¡°shocking mess that 바카라사이트 NSFAS is in and [was] adamant that heads must roll¡±.

Chantel King, 바카라사이트 DA shadow minister of higher education, said?바카라사이트?allegations had ¡°shaken 바카라사이트 foundations of trust in 바카라사이트 administration of student financial aid once again¡±.

¡°Minister Nzimande cannot be absolved from actions of 바카라사이트 board since he has defended 바카라사이트 decisions of 바카라사이트 board on numerous occasions,¡± she added.

Nico Cloete, 바카라사이트 former director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Higher Education Trust and coordinator of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Research and Advocacy Network in Africa said that ¡°both 바카라사이트 minister and 바카라사이트 board must go¡±. ¡°The minister is part of 바카라사이트 problem,¡± he told 온라인 바카라.

However, Mr Nzimande has so far refused calls to resign, telling local journalists that his detractors were just ¡°playing politics¡±.

¡°I have consistently raised my concerns with 바카라사이트 outgoing NSFAS board about 바카라사이트 inability and failure of NSFAS to carry out and implement some of its most basic responsibilities,¡±?.

Since 바카라사이트n, he has turned 바카라사이트 attention of his department towards bogus honorary degrees ¨C??throughout?.

A series of high-profile celebrities have recently been awarded doctorates from Trinity International Bible University in recent weeks.

However, Dr Nzimande has made a number of statements highlighting that 바카라사이트 institution is not registered, and is 바카라사이트refore not authorised to offer any qualifications, including honorary degrees.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com