Swazi Observer

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I LOST SCHOLARSHIP - EX-STUDENT

By Bongiwe Dlamini | 2025-03-06

A few hours after Mbabane East Member of Parliament Welcome Dlamini said students speaking ill of government should have their scholarships revoked, a former student has revealed that he had his scholarship cancelled in his second year of university.

This happened in 2019 while he was president of the Southern Africa Nazarene University (SANU) student representative council (SRC).
Colani Maseko’s scholarship was revoked after he and other SRC executive members allegedly led students to protest where the institution’s property was also vandalised. After a disciplinary hearing, Maseko was sentenced to spend five academic years away from the university.
However, after he appealed and won the case, he was reinstated, but he had already lost the government scholarship. For the rest of his three-year diploma programme, Maseko paid for his education from his pocket.
“When I was doing my second year at SANU, I was sponsored by government, but the scholarship was cancelled and I had to pay for my education even after I had been reinstated as a student,” stated Maseko.

Again, on January 31, 2022, Maseko was arrested and charged with three counts; one of which was for allegedly contravening Section 3(1) as read with Section 4 of the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act 1938 in that on November 29, 2021, with seditious intention he allegedly vandalised the head of state’s portraits during a protest at the university.
At the time Maseko was also president of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS). To-date, the sedition case against Maseko is still pending in court.
statement
Regarding the MP’s statement on revoking scholarships for students who speak against government, Maseko opined that government scholarships are not a privilege, but a right for every Liswati student who have been accepted to study at any university.

He stated that government scholarships are monies from taxes paid by the students’ parents.
“I am disappointed in Dlamini and I think the people who elected him are too. The issue of scholarships is a serious one which has pushed a number of Emaswati youth into depression due to its inaccessibility. It is sad that an MP can say such,” stated Maseko.
On that note, MP Dlamini said he was not moved by the public’s opposition to his statement about scholarships being cancelled for rebellious students.
He said his statement was not spoken off the cuff or from an uninformed point of view, but from firm conviction and understanding.

He said scholarship recipients should read the fine print of the scholarship agreements they signed with the government, which provide for issues of conduct that could lead to withdrawal of the scholarship.
“I appreciate the controversial nature of the withdrawal but that doesn't mean we have to shy away from its implementation,” Dlamini stated.
He argued that scholarships are a privilege, not an entitlement, and are granted based on specific conditions, including adherence to national values or policies. Therefore, he said since students signed a scholarship agreement with clauses regarding conduct, participating in anti-government actions constitutes a breach of contract, justifying withdrawal.
Also, Dlamini acknowledged that government scholarships are funded by taxpayers with the intent of developing professionals who contribute positively to the country’s growth. He said if a student actively engages in anti-government activities, it should be the government’s position that funding them is counterproductive to national development.
“Public funds must serve the public good. Government scholarships are financed through taxpayer contributions with the expectation that recipients will use their education to support national development.
It is contrary to public policy for the state to continue funding individuals who actively work against national stability and progress,” he stated.
Further, the MP argued that students who advocate for anti-government activities may contribute to instability or even incite violence, which poses a national security risk.
He mentioned that many countries have laws that penalise actions deemed as treasonous or subversive, and the government could apply similar reasoning. Furthermore, he said it was the moral duty of government to ensure that its investments in education are not used to foster disloyalty or opposition to national interests.
“Governments often expect a level of patriotism from those they support, and actively funding individuals who seek to undermine the state could be seen as unethical,” he asserted.
“I am well aware that some counterarguments cite freedom of expression as reason for them to hold anti-government views, and I believe that the government recognises the constitutional right to freedom of expression.
However, such rights are not absolute and must be exercised responsibly. It is my firm view that the state retains the right to impose conditions on publicly funded scholarships, provided these conditions are lawful, transparent, and serve a legitimate public interest,” added Dlamini.
In the same breath, the MP said to prevent arbitrary decisions, before the scholarship is withdrawn, government should follow a fair process that includes a formal review and hearing process to assess allegations of anti-government activities; and clear guidelines defining acts that may warrant withdrawal.
“Finally, government, while it must remain committed to supporting higher education as a key driver of national development, must ensure that public funds are not used to empower individuals whose actions directly undermine the stability and progress of the nation. Any decision to withdraw scholarships should be made within the bounds of legality, fairness, and national interest,” he said.

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