Dr. Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, has conveyed his sincere condolences to the family of Buyile Matiwane, Deputy President of the South African Student Congress (SASCO).
Following a brief illness, Matiwane passed away on Monday.
Nzimande said in a statement on Tuesday that Matiwane’s passing is a loss not just to SASCO but to the entire Post School Education and Training (PSET) sector as well, given the important role SASCO plays in the sector as a student movement.
According to him, Matiwane and the current SASCO leadership have a friendly and open relationship that has helped advance students’ interests across the board in the post-secondary education and training sector.
“Such closeness was shown as we responded to COVID-19 and its aftermath as a group.
This includes the choice we made to give the pupils laptops and Internet access.
Throughout all of our institutions, this process was flawlessly coordinated, according to Nzimande.
In memory of Matiwane, the Department of Higher Education and Training will keep providing financial aid through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to children from low-income families and the working class (NSFAS).
According to the National Development Plan, “The Department of Higher Education and Training will continue to expand the total headcount enrolment in higher education, public and private institutions, to 1.62 million” (NDP).
The Comprehensive Student Funding Model, which will be presented to Cabinet for consideration, would help the department continue to find alternate funding models, Nzimande said.
Nzimande emphasized that SASCO is an organization that has produced outstanding patriots and capable cadres, many of whom hold important positions in government agencies and the private sector.