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Call for an investigation into R14 million NSFAS money to student

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The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has called on the Department of Higher Education and Training to urgently conduct a forensic investigation into how R14 million was erroneously paid to a Walter Sisulu University student earlier in 2017.

The committee’s call follows the completion of an investigation into the matter by Intellimali, a company tasked by the university to distribute funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

Chairperson of the Committee, Connie September says they cannot have a situation where no one knows what led to the saga.

September says the department needs to get to the bottom of this.

“The department needs to do a forensic investigation because you cannot have a situation where no one knows who has pressed the six zero’s to make it R14 million. We don’t think no one knows what happened to make it R14 million and of course, at this point, we do suspect that there must be something untoward.”

Higher Education and Training Spokesperson Madikwe Mabotha says they will comply.

“The department has started immediately with the process part, which is to conclude the terms of reference which are currently being drafted and will hopefully be completed by the end of today (Thursday). We are hoping that the independent investigator will be appointed by the end of next week – the latest hoping to have the investigation concluded by the end of January.”

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