The scheme made media headlines when some students abroad alleged that they have to stay days without food because the provincial education department kept on paying allocations for living expenses late. 

They said some also found that the qualifications they will receive upon completing their studies are not recognised in South Africa, while other institutions are not even accredited. 

The premier admitted that there were problems with three of the universities. Finance MEC Elzabe Rockman also said during the tabling of the provincial budget that this bursary scheme is partly responsible for the financial woes of the provincial education department. 

Rockman said the provincial education department had to keep on forking out money to make up for the shortfall in the bursary scheme’s budget because of fluctuation of the value of the rand. She says this had a crippling effect on the department that has been under administration for more than a year now. 

Premier Magashule said the bursary scheme will now be rolled out by the provincial skills development coordination unit – also a new edition to his portfolio. The unit will also coordinate the training and development for municipal officials in the province. 

OFM News