Pretoria - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu has called on civil servants working in the province's departments to pay the money they owe to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
“I have discovered that there are over 15 663 employees in our departments owing NSFAS over R400 million. This is a serious matter that I have put forward for discussion by all members of the executive council,” said the Premier.
He said that there were thousands of students who are battling under these difficult economic conditions.
Premier Mchunu was speaking at the opening of the Provincial Executive Council Lekgotla in Durban, on Thursday.
“We are calling upon the private sector to also encourage their employees to pay back NSFAS and we believe that this will go a long way towards turning around the situation,” said the Premier.
He said the province’s resource is its people, adding that it is critical that the talent and potential of the youth is fully developed and harnessed.
“Our vision as the provincial government is for all young people to grow up safe, healthy, happy and resilient and to have the opportunities and skills they need in order participate in the socio-economic development of this province.
“We acknowledge that government cannot achieve this vision alone. We are relying on the private sector to also assist in terms of creating opportunities of young people.”
In the last five years, the provincial government has spent more than R1.5 billion on bursaries awarded to needy students.
“The accumulative number of students that have benefited from the bursary programme over the past five years is more than 7000. We are committed to ensuring that our programmes on skills and youth development reach many young people across the province,” said the Premier. – SAnews.gov.za
