The Democratic Alliance said that the announcement by President Jacob Zuma that government would introduce fully subsidised free higher education and training for poor and working-class undergraduate students while welcomed, is completely un-costed.
DA MP, Belinda Bozzoli, said that must, therefore, be seen for what it is, “playing politics with the hopes and futures of millions of young people.”
“The statement is a combination of populist politicking, deceptive language, un-costed proposals and one positively dangerous assertion,” she said.
Bozzoli said that the President waited until the very end of the year so that he could make a splash at the ANC conference, while students, their families, and the institutions they wish to attend anxiously awaited news.
“Such cheap politicking is appalling. Unsurprisingly, his statement is full of promises, but lacking actual implementation details,” she said.
“This limited offer of “free education for the poor” has not been financially feasible. It will inevitably entail an increase in the NSFAS budget by at least 100% - from the current R11bn to about R22bn. In fact, the number of students in this bracket is entirely unknown and this proposal probably entails an even higher number. It could bring the cost of NSFAS up to R30bn,” said Bozzoli.
“Under the President’s new ‘plan’, NSFAS will require a massive expansion to provide funding grants to students from families earning less than R350 000.”
She said the DA welcomed the announcement that University subsidies will be increased from 0.68 of GDP to 1% of GDP over the next five years, as it has been something we have fought for over the past several years.
However, this increase is completely un-costed,” she added.
