THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education yesterday missed the deadline to pay private higher education institution Sants.
The Witness reported last week that the department had paid the capital amount of R32 million that was ordered by the high court in November. The court said the department should pay interest at the statutory rate of 15,5% by February 10.
Sants spokesperson Kobie van Zyl said the interest amounts to just over R4 million.
The department had announced that they had settled the debt on January 28, but had not mentioned that there was still an amount outstanding.
Last week, Sants said if the interest was not paid by February 10, some of the department’s vehicles will be auctioned to recover the money. But Van Zyl said this still needs to be confirmed.
The department was dragged to court after failing to pay the fees of about 1 260 underprivileged students who studied at Sants last year.
The department’s spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi yesterday said he would have to check with the department’s legal unit before commenting.
