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Eastern Cape ANCYL calls for probe into possible corruption at NSFAS

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The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in the Eastern Cape has called for an investigation into possible corruption at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

This follows the East London Magistrate’s Court sentencing of Walter Sisulu University (WSU) student, Sibongile Mani, to five years in prison.

R14 million was erroneously paid to her account by the NSFAS agency in 2017 – of which she spent over R800 000 in three months.

Magistrate Twannet Olivier says Mani’s actions were not inspired by need, but by greed.

In the report below, Mani to appeal five-year sentence: 

She will remain out of prison until April 11, pending the outcome of her application for leave to appeal the sentence.

ANCYL provincial spokesperson Zuko Godlimpi says, “We believe that a suspended sentence with community service would have served a much greater purpose. She could have been sent on the right road to talk to other students about the better ways of spending money received from NSFAS.”

“There is a lot of institutional rot at NSFAS. We think this is an opportunity for the state to zoom into this scheme and to try to find out ways to keep the system tight.”

Below is the full interview with Zuko Godlimpi:

South Africans react to Mani’s sentencing:

Meanwhile, angry citizens have taken to social media to express their frustration and disappointment over the court sentence imposed on Mani.

Some social media users feel that the court sentence was harsh to Mani.

They say the country’s judicial system is inconsistent as it only targets poor and vulnerable groups in society.

Some have gone as far as suggesting that the country’s laws were designed to favour the rich and the privileged.

They argue that many politicians and white businessmen have gotten away with far more serious crimes.-Additional reporting by Tshepiso Moche

 

 

 

 

 

 

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