About R5.1 billion of NSFAS money has been used to illegally fund students who do not qualify for financial assistance.
This was revealed during a briefing to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA).
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) updated MPs on the preliminary findings of its probe into allegations of maladministration and improper funding at NSFAS.
The probe was mandated in terms of the Proclamation issued by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2022.
The main objective of the investigation is to probe any serious maladministration and improper or unlawful conduct by the employees or officials of NSFAS among other things.
SIU Chief National Investigations Officer, Leonard Lekgetho says about 40 000 students who do not qualify for NSFAS were listed to unduly benefit from the scheme.
“When you look at the total number of students, we are looking at 66 institutions and the number of students we are looking at 44 000. And when you look at the amount involved is R5.1 billion that has been paid to unqualified students. So that is where the investigation is currently looking at. We are tracing all the students to identify them, interview them and look at the information they have provided when they apply for loans or bursaries.”
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