Efficiency aim for new NSFAS chief

29 Sep 2017

Matriculants from poor backgrounds could know sooner in future - even before they write their final exams - if they will receive funding for their university studies.

This is one of the priorities of Steven Zwane, the new CEO of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

Zwane began his new job on 1 September and has committed to making changes to how NSFAS operates and the relationship it has with students and universities.

NSFAS made headlines this month when a company contracted to the organisation mistakenly paid a student R14-million.

Zwane said he wanted to improve the image of the organisation in society.

"I would like to earn back the trust. I would love to see first-time applicants know their results of whether they are successful or not before they write their exams. I would love to do that.

"This would inspire that person to do well - that is real-time feedback," he said.

Zwane worked as a chief operating officer at Absa for retail business, business banking and insurance.

He was also a beneficiary of NSFAS.

He studied for his first degree, a BSc in Computer Science, at the University of Zululand, and said he paid back the money in the first three years of his working life.

The NSFAS debt book stands at about R18-billion and the collection rate has dropped from about R800-million a year to R200-million after the National Credit Act stopped NSFAS from obtaining garnishee orders.

NSFAS has taken its debt book to independent firms who are recovering some of the outstanding money. They have already collected about R300-million.

Zwane said he would be adding more capacity to the recovery division to bring more efficiency.

"We live in a country where people feel that they must get things. This entitlement culture is so prevalent in all sorts of things.

"For example, this girl who received R14million from the state, why did she have to spend money that was not hers?"

Source: The Times

Source: I-Net Bridge

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