Speaking in Pretoria on Thursday, Cassim outlined the department’s response to ongoing concerns surrounding NSFAS and also addressed xenophobic and religiously motivated attacks directed at Cassim following the recent appointment by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Cassim said a distinction must be made between policy and legislative matters that require longer-term review processes and urgent operational issues that can be addressed immediately.
Following a recent meeting with the NSFAS administrator and leadership team in Cape Town, Cassim said several pressing matters had been identified for intervention.
Among the issues discussed were more than 10 000 students whose funding was suspended while undergoing gap funding investigations, University of SA students awaiting confirmation of second-semester funding, and concerns over delays in the payment of allowances linked to NSFAS disbursement schedules.
Cassim said accommodation allowance challenges affecting Central University of Technology students residing in unaccredited residences had already begun to receive attention.
According to Cassim, a team had been deployed to address the issue and begin resolving outstanding payments.
Many of the concerns raised by students have been channelled through the Deputy Minister’s Help Desk, an initiative established by former Deputy Minister Mimmy Gondwe to assist students facing funding-related difficulties.
Cassim also responded to criticism surrounding the appointment, saying some attacks had questioned Cassim’s nationality and religious identity.
According to Cassim, the comments included xenophobic allegations as well as Islamophobic attacks.
Cassim described the criticism as part of a broader global trend in which certain political actors seek to divide societies along religious, ethnic or cultural lines for political advantage. “We have a responsibility as South Africans to resist those who seek to divide us,” Cassim said.
Cassim argued that nation-building depends on unity and warned against allowing political discourse to become driven by division and exclusion.
The discussion also touched on the ongoing national debate around migration and its impact on institutions of higher learning.
Cassim acknowledged concerns around undocumented migration, saying it is a legitimate issue that government must address effectively.
At the same time, Cassim noted that international students and academics contribute significantly to universities through research, skills development and economic activity.
According to Cassim, universities benefit from global academic exchanges, while it remains important that all foreign nationals comply with immigration laws and possess the necessary permits and documentation.
Cassim praised Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber for efforts to improve the efficiency of the immigration system.
Cassim said restoring public confidence in government’s ability to manage immigration is essential to preventing vigilantism and reducing social tensions.
According to Cassim, government must continue addressing immigration challenges through lawful processes while safeguarding constitutional values and promoting social cohesion.
Cassim said effective governance and institutional accountability remain critical to ensuring both a functioning student funding system and a society that remains united despite its diversity.
–ChannelAfrica–
