NSFAS pays R5 billion to undeserving students
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says investigations which started in September were still in the early stages and no one from the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)has been implicated in the alleged payment of R5.1bn to more than 40,000 students who did not qualify for bursaries.
A lead investigator of the SIU, whose name cannot be used for his safety, said the proclamation mandated the SIU to investigate any alleged serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of NSFAS.
According to the report, 76 institutions with 40 044 students who did not qualify for bursaries from 2018 to 2021. Gauteng had 16 institutions with 17 788 students, followed by the Western Cape, which had 10 institutions with 5 481 students, KwaZulu-Natal had 13 institutions with 4 409 students, the Eastern Cape had 12 institutions with 3 842 students, Free State had six institutions with 2 688 students, North West had four institutions with 2 575, Limpopo had nine institutions with 2 291 students, Mpumalanga had four institutions with 666 students while Northern Cape had three institutions with 304 students.
“These are students whose household income is above R350 000 and, therefore, would not qualify for NSFAS funding based on the funding rules. They also did not submit their parents’ details upon application, resulting in the means test not being properly conducted. To date, we have interviewed several affected students and parents to obtain additional information,” he added.
The SIU launched its investigation into the alleged corruption, maladministration, and the allocation of loans, bursaries, and any other funding payable to students in September last year, after receiving the green light from President Cyril Ramaphosa to probe the matter.
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