HIGHER-EDUCATION FUNDING
ANALYSIS: Populist policies make the road even rougher for South Africa
Academics warn policies such as free higher education condone financial indiscipline and come with severe consequences, writes Amanda Visser
As Treasury officials and Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba start their consultative meetings to discuss budget 2018, the funding of higher education will certainly be high on the agenda. President Jacob Zuma announced free higher-education for students from poor households in December, shortly before he was replaced by Cyril Ramaphosa as the leader of the ANC. Zuma also announced increased funding through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme for first-time students enrolling at technical and vocational education and training colleges and university students from households with a combined annual income of up to R350,000. This ignored the views of the Treasury, the recommendations of the Heher commission — which was appointed by Zuma — and of the Davis tax committee. Both found that it was impossible to offer free tertiary education. PwC head of national tax technical Kyle Mandy says that without even considering the urgent need to fund Zuma’s promises, South Africans are already ...
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