ActionSA Youth Forum Demands Minister Blade Nzimande's Resignation Over Corruption Allegations

ActionSA Youth Forum members on Sunday protested outside the Government Communication Information System (GCIS) office in Pretoria, demanding the resignation of Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Blade Nzimande, who is facing corruption allegations.

The protest occurred when Nzimande was in the office to announce the implementation of the first phase of the Comprehensive Student Funding Model.

The official ActionSA Youth Forum X handle, formerly known as Twitter, shared a video featuring protestors wearing green uniforms of their political party, ActionSA.

"Picket outside the DHETs Media Briefing in Pretoria calling for Minister Blade Nzimande to resign, lead by National Youth Forum Chairperson, Hluphi Gafane," the handle wrote alongside the video.

In a separate post, National Youth Forum Chairperson Hluphi Gafane can be seen interacting with the media outside the office with a card in her hand that read, "Blade Must Go!"

The minister, on the other hand, issued a statement regarding the Comprehensive Student Funding Model on the same day.

"We are now ready to implement the first phase of the Comprehensive Student Funding Model, which will ensure that the missing middle students will now be able to access financial support from the government in the form of a loan to pursue their studies," he said, as per the official government website.

The eligible students are those who come from families that have a total income between R350,000 to R600,000 per annum.

"Today I am pleased to announce yet another important milestone in the commitments of the ANC-led government to advance a better life for all as we celebrate thirty (30) years of freedom," he said.

"This loan scheme will be administered by NSFAS which has the legal mandate to offer student loans as per Section 4 of NSFAS [National Student Financial Aid Scheme] Act 1999," he added.

The protest and statement came after the Organization Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) accused the minister of engaging with NSFAS board chairperson Ernest Khosa to receive substantial kickbacks.

The minister responded to the allegations last week and called it a smear campaign to ruin his reputation.

Another political party, Democratic Alliance, urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to probe the allegations while the minister said that he is ready to cooperate with the investigation over corruption claims.