Question NW906 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture:
20 March 2025 - NW906
Luthuli, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture:
How is his department working with universities to improve the verification processes that delay the disbursement of funds to heritage students?
Reply:
In most instances, the delay in the payment of the heritage bursaries is due to the delay in the sending of documents by universities. Once this is done, there may be a delay in the signing of the memoranda of agreement between the universities and the Department.
The Department at first sends numerous reminders to universities to submit the documents. If the universities do not comply, the Department sends letters to the Vice Chancellors of the universities to request their intervention. Departmental officials also travel to the universities to personally collect documents if necessary.
With regard to the signing of the memoranda of agreement, it has been agreed by the Legal Services Section of the DSAC that the documents can be signed electronically. This process is faster than the couriering of documents.
I can add that the Ministry is reviewing the funding of these bursaries, given that they often seem not to translate into sustainable employment for the recipients.