PRETORIA, Gauteng — National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Administrator Prof Hlengani Mathebula has firmly rejected recent allegations that he is “living large” and misusing funds to appoint multiple advisors, describing the claims as slander while outlining the severe governance and financial challenges he inherited at the student financial aid scheme.
Appointed nearly two months ago to address what the Minister of Higher Education described as prolonged governance challenges, legal concerns, and operational weaknesses, Mathebula provided a stark assessment of the organization’s current state. He described the institution as “traumatized” and “at war with itself,” noting it has suffered from severe instability, marking its third administration in just ten years.
Highlighting the financial disarray, the NSFAS Administrator revealed that the Auditor-General issued a disclaimer audit opinion for two successive financial reporting cycles. Furthermore, he pointed out the existence of nine material irregularities, calling the situation a serious indictment that necessitated immediate expert intervention to restore financial reliability.
Addressing the controversy surrounding his appointment of four advisors, Mathebula clarified the timeline and rationale behind the hires. He explained that he arrived alone in May to conduct a full, fact-based assessment without preconceived ideas. In June, he appointed two advisors for specific focus areas, and in July, he added two more with specialized financial expertise to tackle the irregularities. He noted that the government gazette explicitly limited his advisory team to four to prevent the bloated structures seen in previous administrations.
On the issue of compensation, Mathebula stated that his own remuneration, which requires peer-to-peer concurrence between the Minister of Higher Education and the Minister of Finance, has not yet been processed. As a result, he has not been personally paid in his first two months on the job. However, he confirmed that his four advisors, appointed as independent contractors with the full concurrence of the Higher Education Minister, have been remunerated for their work.
The NSFAS Administrator also addressed ongoing litigation seeking to review and set aside his appointment. The legal challenge argues his role is irrational and unlawful based on recommendations from the Nugent Commission regarding his previous tenure at the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
Defending his suitability for the role of public trust, Mathebula emphasized that the commission did not find any criminality against him, nor did it recommend he be barred from holding office or refer him to law enforcement. While acknowledging that the Commission criticized his approval of email interceptions at SARS—a move that included emails of internal staff and external figures like the SIU head—Mathebula argued the criticism was misplaced. He maintained that he acted strictly within an existing organizational policy at SARS, and that the responsibility to review the legality of that policy did not rest solely on him.
