FREE State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana has stopped the foreign-trained students project which was financed for years by the provincial government during former premier Ace Magashule's tenure.
This after Dukwana met with University of Free State Vice-Chancellor Prof Francis Petersen, Principal of the University Prof Nicholas Pearce as well as Head of School of Clinical Medicine and his team to review the project, which includes medical students to help them overcome their careers and have their qualifications recognised in South Africa.
The previous provincial administration sent 64 students to study abroad to acquire international skills, with 46 schooled in Russia, 10 in Turkey, seven in China, while one was schooled in US.
But the project has been questioned by many political parties, calling it a scam of highly orchestrated corruption.
The premier's spokesman, Sello Dithebe said these students are obliged to undergo a preparatory programme, pass that programme and still have their original institutions of study in foreign lands accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa to be able to handle patients.
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"Preparing the students is important, among others, to help them understand the profile of diseases in Mzansi so that they can better diagnose their patients and help improve their prognoses.
"The vice chancellor and his team undertook to help the provincial government to ensure these medical students successfully go through the requisite preparatory programme to finally enjoy their profession and serve their people. The project is officially cancelled," he said.
Dithebe further indicated that government, in collaboration with the University of Free State, will focus on the rehabilitation of water that occurs from mining activity with a specific focus on acid mine drainage, firmly positioning the province to focus on water, food and energy security, as well the skills revolution.
"The university and government have constituted a team that is led by Prof Nicholas Pearce and the acting DDG Dr Molefinyana Phera representing the university and government respectively," he said.
The foreign-trained students initiative used to be a pilot project between the late President Nelson Mandela and his Cuban counterpart Fidel Alegandro Castro Ruz, where students were sent to Cuba to acquire advanced medical qualifications which matched the standards of South Africa.
