DailySun
Johannesburg – The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has condemned the Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA) bursary program due to its failure to pay students’ fees.
In a pointed statement released over the weekend, the ANCYL in Gauteng voiced their frustration, declaring: “We are profoundly disappointed by the gross incompetence and flagrant negligence shown by the GCRA, which has resulted in numerous students being unable to finance their tuition fees.”
The ANCYL highlighted: “Among those impacted are three high-achieving medical students from the University of Cape Town (UCT), whose futures are jeopardized because of the GCRA’s failure to fulfill its promises.”
“These students, who should be celebrating their academic accomplishments, are instead grappling with despair, unable to enroll for their fifth year of studies in 2025 owing to the GCRA’s unpaid tuition fees.”
“We possess an email from an exasperated fifth-year student addressed to the GCRA, urgently requesting assistance regarding outstanding fees.”
“This email, like many others, has gone unanswered, highlighting the CEO’s complete disregard for the struggles faced by the youth under the institution’s purview.”
The ANCYL called for the “immediate dismissal of the GCRA CEO,” accusing this individual of incompetence.
“The incompetence of this person has caused unnecessary hardship for students, betrayed the trust placed in the institution, and undermined its mission to promote youth development,” the statement asserted.
“As part of our congress resolution, we demand that the CEO be replaced with a young, qualified, and reputable individual committed to addressing the needs of young people.”
The GCRA bursary program is designed to foster a skilled, capable, and ethical workforce for the Gauteng City Region.
This bursary program is available to all qualifying youth, particularly those from Gauteng, aiming to pursue undergraduate and/or postgraduate studies at accredited and registered Post School Education and Training institutions throughout South Africa.
The bursary covers the total cost of studies, contingent upon the stipulations stated in the bursary contract.
Recently, the Democratic Alliance (DA) stated: “GCRA learners continue to endure significant challenges due to the absence of essential learning resources, while Gauteng Department of Education Head of Department Edward Mosuwe is shielding a Chief Executive Officer implicated in maladministration, corruption, and fraud as noted by the Auditor General.”
The DA further remarked: “It is intolerable for GCRA to neglect its support for young individuals, such as learnerships, bursaries, and apprenticeships, due to a corrupt official.”
“The Auditor General suggested that the department’s HOD should file a criminal complaint against all officials involved in this corruption scandal and notify the Treasury, AG, and the department’s MEC.”
“Rather than act on these straightforward recommendations, the HOD opted to hire a law firm to examine the situation.”
“This delay is costing the department more resources instead of executing the AG’s recommendations.”
The DA mentioned that it has contacted Gauteng Department of Education MEC Matome Chiloane, demanding swift action against the HOD for failing to act on the AG’s recommendations.
While The Bulrushes has been unable to secure a statement from the GCRA, reports from Inside Education suggest that the Gauteng education department has dismissed any allegations of “malicious intent” regarding student funding issues at the GCRA.
Inside Education quotes spokesperson Steve Mabona as saying that the department is aware of the challenges and is striving to rectify the situation.
“We acknowledge that we have experienced some delays in processing necessary payments to specific institutions, but these challenges have now been resolved as payments have been made accordingly,” Mabona was quoted as saying on Friday, (3 January 2025).
