Minister Nzimande refutes claims of receiving funds for SACP

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Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has refuted allegations that he received kickbacks from service providers as well as at least one million rand for the South African Communist Party (SACP) in return for tenders and protection for service providers.

The allegations are contained in audio recordings released by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) alleging that there were meetings between National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) chairperson Ernest Khosa and a representative of an NSFAS service provider which also implicates Nzimande.

Addressing the media in Pretoria on the allegations, Dr Nzimande insists he never misused any government funds.

“I have never used any money from my department’s entities for the SACP as maliciously and falsely requested in the OUTA report nor have I received personal kickbacks from any services of entities falling under my department. I therefore dismiss this baseless insinuation by OUTA and some organisations including some sections of the media that I was involved in some form of corruption.”

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The SACP in Mpumalanga says it is not going to waste time discussing the allegations leveled against Nzimande All three parties have since denied the allegations.

SACP Provincial Secretary, Lucky Mbuyane says the communist party is not shaken by faceless people making such allegations without proof.

“We’re not going to waste our time as a province and make a statement to that effect if these people have proof of what they are talking about. They must come forward with proof of what they are talking about. As a province, we are not going to waste time and chase after faceless people.”