The Democratic Alliance has laid a complaint with a parliamentary committee against the Minister of Higher Education, Training and Innovation, Blade Nzimande.
The move follows serious allegations by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, (OUTA), that leaked voice notes implicate Nzimande, and the chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, Ernest Khosa, in receiving kickbacks from an NSFAS service provider.
The party said the complaint was registered with Parliament's joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interest on Monday.
DA member of parliament Chantal King says if the minister is guilty, he must be fired.
"These allegations, if found to be true, would mean that the Minister has violated the parliamentary code of ethical conduct and disclosure of members' interest, as well as the principles of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, openness, honesty, and leadership, contained in the code, and expected of members of parliament," says King.
She also said that every year thousands of vulnerable students who depend on NSFAS are let down in some way either through late payments or they are wrongfully de-registered mid-year.
"And every year the Minister makes excuses or attempts to shift the blame - as the Minister is trying to do now by blaming universities for the late payment of last year's outstanding allowances."
King said it is clear that Minister Nzimande has long since lost sight of who he is mandated to serve.
Meanwhile, Khosa has taken a leave of absence in the wake of the OUTA claims, and according to NSFAS Board, this will allow it to deal with the allegations levelled against him.
Minister Nzimande denied the claims, saying he had no role in the awarding of an NSFAS tender to a service provider.
“These allegations are therefore both false and malicious," he said.
