OUTA demands investigation into INSETA scholarship fund worth 443 million rands due to management issues

The Organization Against Tax Abuse (OUTA) has demanded a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the Inspection for Education and Training in the Insurance Sector (INSETA) scholarship fund. These demands arose following a preliminary review that revealed serious concerns regarding procurement, management, and financial administration, including an almost 1900 percent increase in the fund's approved budget for the 2024/25 fiscal year.

Financial anomalies and requests

Civil society insists that the general ledger for project INPROJ000369 be made public, as this is necessary to establish the order of distribution and expenditure of funds. According to the report, the Insurance Sector Student Scholarship Fund (ISSF) was managed internally from 2021 to 2024, with the annual project cost fluctuating between 18.6 million and 20 million rands. However, in the 2024/25 fiscal year, the approved project cost sharply increased to 442.78 million rands, with an expenditure of 158.72 million rands registered under project code INPROJ000369.

The report indicates that the recorded expenses include an alleged advance of about 70 million rands, which, according to media reports, was paid to Mabophe Business Solutions for administering the scholarship fund. OUTA stated that access to the project's general ledger is necessary to ascertain whether this payment was made and how the remaining approximately 88.7 million rands were spent.

Payment problems and government reaction

This investigation followed the temporary suspension of INSETA CEO, Gugugu Mkhize, in June while the agency examined failures in the scholarship payment system. The OUTA report, citing media reports, alleges that during the first five months of 2025, 879 scholarship students went without payments despite funds allegedly being transferred to the service provider responsible for processing payments.

Following the suspension, Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela issued a directive to the INSETA board concerning the agency's governance and operational matters. The Minister called the delays in student allowance payments 'unacceptable' and instructed the board to rectify management processes, emphasizing that this directive was not a finding of merit regarding any allegations against Mkhize. The department reported that investigations initiated by the board and the National Skills Authority would continue.

According to the OUTA report, many students faced threats of eviction, food shortages, and risk of academic exclusion. Subsequently, INSETA made emergency payments totaling 4.6 million rands directly to housing providers to prevent students from losing their accommodation.

Tender issues and contractor experience

OUTA also questions the procurement process that led to the engagement of Mabophe Business Solutions. The organization noted that in 2022, INSETA conducted a competitive tender for a project management service provider to manage the fund for three years. Three bids were received, after which the tender was cancelled, and potential participants were informed of insufficient funding. Nevertheless, citing media reports, OUTA claims that Mabophe Business Solutions was subsequently appointed to manage the fund despite the tender cancellation.

The report states: 'If this assertion is true, then the CEO was involved in the irregular and non-procedural appointment of Mabophe Business Solutions to manage the ISSF, bypassing established supply chain policies and violating competitive bidding procedures.' The document adds that any such appointment requires an investigation to determine compliance with procurement legislation and internal procedures.

Lack of company experience

As part of its investigation, OUTA found no evidence on the company's website or in public information confirming Mabophe Business Solutions' experience in administering large-scale student scholarship programs. The organization determined that the company's publicly identifiable activities are related to fundraising and project management in other sectors, raising further questions about its appointment to manage the fund.

Furthermore, the organization checked the invoice submitted by the student housing provider, which it claimed had not been paid despite being presented by Mabophe. According to the report, the housing provider confirmed the authenticity of the invoice and stated that the student ultimately paid the accommodation costs out of pocket, despite having an INSETA scholarship.

OUTA's demands to INSETA

OUTA Senior Project Manager, Rudi Heineke, stated: 'Our preliminary investigation into INSETA raises serious questions about governance, procurement, and financial oversight. At the center of this are hundreds of students whose education has been jeopardized by system failures.' OUTA called on INSETA to provide the general project ledger and supporting financial documents, investigate the appointment of Mabophe Business Solutions, report on all expenditures related to the ISSF, ensure that affected students receive the promised financial support, and hold accountable all those responsible for irregular spending or mismanagement.

iol.co.zaJuly 29, 17:00

UKZN Student Taalia Aberdin Selected to Represent South Africa at Global Leadership Event in Thailand

Taalia Tasmiya Aberdin, a final-year undergraduate student studying education at UKZN, has been selected to participate in the XIV Symposium of University Scholars Leaders 2026. This symposium is one of the world's leading platforms for developing leadership qualities among emerging change agents and will take place in Thailand.

Symposium Details and Goals

Aberdin's selection is based on her demonstrated leadership, commitment to community service, and potential to make a significant contribution to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The symposium is organized by Humanitarian Affairs Asia and will be held in August at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 21-year-old participant will join delegates from over 47 countries as part of an intensive program aimed at shaping ethical and globally-minded leaders. The four-day event will bring together young executives, policymakers, humanitarian workers, academics, and social innovators for high-level discussions, practical training, and intercultural collaboration focused on solving the world's most pressing issues.

Gaining Experience and Vision for the Future

Participants will gain insight into strategic leadership models, collaboratively develop innovative solutions to global issues, and build international networks aimed at creating sustainable social impact. For Aberdin herself, this opportunity marks both a personal milestone and a chance to showcase the leadership of South African youth on the international stage.

She expressed deep gratitude for the selection, stating that she will proudly represent UKZN and the Scouting South Africa movement, which she has been involved with for ten years. Aberdin emphasized that the symposium will provide an invaluable opportunity to collaborate with young leaders from around the world while advocating for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Priorities and Personal Experience

Aberdin specifically highlighted her interest in promoting quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, climate action, and life underwater and on land. Her drive to protect human rights stems from personal experiences of facing discrimination and social inequality, which have shaped both her academic path and her involvement in community life.

She recounted experiencing racial profiling and exclusion during childhood due to her mixed heritage. Aberdin recalled an incident in third grade where peers used harmful stereotypes to categorize her because they were confused by her background, leaving her isolated. Furthermore, she noted that gender discrimination remains a persistent issue, often resulting in women being told, 'As a girl, you should...', which limits a woman's individuality.

Volunteering and Leadership

These experiences prompted Aberdin to actively engage in community development from an early age. For the past decade, she has been an active member of the Scouting South Africa movement, where she developed leadership skills through participation in humanitarian initiatives, including diversity awareness programs, environmental projects, feeding schemes, and community support campaigns. Through scouting, she also assisted homeless people in Durban by participating in fundraising and information campaigns alongside organizations such as iDare2Care.

Currently serving as Rover Group leader, Aberdin has helped create community-focused programs centered on identifying local issues, developing sustainable solutions, and empowering communities. Under her leadership, the Rover Group has received Gold Awards for leadership for two consecutive years. She believes that significant social change begins with the conscious choices of individuals working collectively within their communities.

Prospects and Gratitude

Looking forward to participating in the symposium, Aberdin hopes that the international experience will broaden her understanding of global challenges and strengthen her ability to address issues within South Africa. She expects to deepen her knowledge of social issues on an international scale, learn to assess local problems from a global perspective, improve cross-cultural communication skills, find new approaches to community-level problem-solving, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded individuals committed to sustainable development.

Attending the symposium marks an important turning point in her personal and professional journey, transitioning from a student to a specialist working alongside other professionals. The international perspective gained will help her solve local difficulties more creatively. Aberdin expressed gratitude to her family, friends, and the World Scouting Movement for their unwavering support throughout her journey.

podrobno.uzJuly 29, 16:39

Uzbekistan plans to introduce new knowledge assessment standards for university students starting in 2026/2027

Higher educational institutions in Uzbekistan are preparing for changes in the procedure for final attestation. Starting in the 2026/2027 academic year, students will be assessed according to updated regulations, which entails a change in the format of control measures. Furthermore, instructors will be required not only to assign grades but also to justify the received evaluation.

New Draft Resolution

A draft resolution titled 'On Improving the Procedure for Assessing and Monitoring Student Knowledge in Higher Educational Institutions' has been published for public discussion. This document introduces adjustments to both the organization of exams and the methodology of assessment. These new requirements will apply to bachelor's and master's students enrolling in universities from the specified academic year.

Changes in Assessment Format

The primary method of knowledge verification under the draft will be a written exam. Students will have to solve between three and five problems that must demonstrate not only mastery of the subject material but also the ability to analyze information and formulate their own viewpoint. Nevertheless, for some specialties, the use of alternative forms of control, such as testing or practical assignments, remains possible, depending on the specifics of the particular field of knowledge.

Strengthening Examination Requirements

It is planned to tighten the requirements for the attestation process. Classrooms must be equipped with video surveillance cameras with sound recording capabilities. Admission to the exam is possible only after the student presents an identity document. Stricter rules for monitoring discipline are also being introduced: those who arrive late after the start of the test will not be admitted, and those who leave the classroom without permission will lose the right to retake the exam.

Detailing Examination Requirements

The format of the written work will be limited to two thousand words. If the exam is conducted in a test format, students will be offered between twenty-five and fifty questions, with the exact number depending on the specialty and the specifics of the subject being studied. To ensure transparency, universities are obliged to inform students in advance about the grading system, assignment requirements, and exam format. The schedule of final tests must be published no later than one month before their conduct.

Role of the Instructor and System Flexibility

Significant attention has been paid to the obligation of instructors: after grading the papers, they must provide a comment on each answer, consisting of two to three sentences. This comment must indicate the strengths of the completed work and the errors that affected the final score. However, for fields requiring creative approaches and practical skills, more flexible conditions remain. Universities can independently determine the assessment format for students in medical, art, sports, and other specialties, using, for example, practical assignments instead of a standard written exam.

uza.uzJuly 29, 15:46

Research by Uzbek Scientist Expands Prospects for Developing Anticancer Drugs

Scientific research conducted by a scientist from Uzbekistan has significantly expanded the possibilities in developing cancer drugs. These achievements were made during a scientific internship at Debrecen University in Hungary.

Work in Hungary

Nurkhoja Mukhamedov, a senior researcher at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, conducted research on promising bioactive compounds against cancer cells. He collaborated with scientists from the departments of Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmacology, and Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Debrecen University.

Chemical Analysis of Compounds

As part of the work in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, under the supervision of Professor Aniko Borbas, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H and ¹³C NMR) analyses were performed, which allowed for precise confirmation of the chemical structure of bufadienolides and their derivatives.

Testing Anticancer Activity

One of the key stages of the research was the evaluation of the anticancer effect of the bioactive compounds. In experiments conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, arenobufagin and its derivatives were tested on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. It was found that some derivatives, such as Ar-004, Ar-008, and Ar-015, are capable of noticeably slowing down the viability of cancer cells at nanomolar concentrations.

Reduced Cardiotoxicity

Furthermore, studies on the H9c2 cardiomyocyte cell model showed that by chemically modifying arenobufagin, it was possible to maintain its anticancer activity while sharply reducing its toxic effect on heart cells. This opens the way for these compounds to be considered in the future as safer and more effective candidates for medicinal drugs.

New Research Methods

During the internship, the Uzbek scientist also mastered the Langendorff heart ex vivo perfusion method, widely used in modern pharmacology, studying the broad possibilities of this method for evaluating new biologically active substances.