MK Party Welcomes High Court Ruling Reinstating NSFAS Board and Setting Aside Administrator
BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR
MK Party Welcomes High Court Ruling Reinstating NSFAS Board and Setting Aside Administrator
By KasiBCAfrica News
PRETORIA — The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has issued a statement welcoming the judgment handed down by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on 14 August 2026, which set aside Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela's decision to dissolve the board of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
In the ruling delivered by Judge Etienne Labuschagne, the court ordered the immediate reinstatement of the dissolved NSFAS board members and suspended the appointment of Professor Hlengani Mathebula as the administrator of the scheme.
Reaction to the High Court Order
The MK Party characterized the High Court's decision as a "vindication of accountability and a rebuke of executive overreach," noting that it had previously warned Minister Manamela against placing the funding body under administration.
Executive Overreach: The party argued that the Minister’s decision to dissolve the board in May 2026 was ill-advised and created unnecessary instability within student funding administration.
Reinstatement of Governance: The ruling allows seven reinstated board members to resume their governance, management, and oversight duties over the entity.
Scrutiny Following Parliamentary Proceedings
The party's statement highlighted recent appearances by the Higher Education leadership before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education on 12 August 2026:
Ministerial Accountability: The MK Party raised concerns regarding Minister Manamela's responses during committee questioning, pointing out his prior experience as Deputy Minister in the same portfolio.
Interpretation of Section 17C: The party criticized attempts by the appointed administrator during parliamentary testimony to rely on Section 17C of the NSFAS Act to justify financial actions undertaken during the administration period.
Ministry’s Response to the Judgment
Following the court's finding that the Minister's decision was irrational, the Ministry of Higher Education and Training indicated that it is studying the judgment alongside its legal team to determine appropriate legal remedies and next steps.
Minister Manamela assured the public that the Department will take all necessary measures to ensure that student funding and the operations of NSFAS continue without disruption during the legal transition.
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