The convicted Walter Sisulu University student, Sibongile Mani, is set to be sentenced on Wednesday.
The pre-sentencing proceedings were concluded on Tuesday.
Mani was found guilty of theft after R14-million was erroneously paid to her by Intellimali in 2017.
She spent more than R800 000 over a period of three months before the error was picked up.
Mani’s legal representative argued that his client was remorseful, a mother of two and that imprisonment will be detrimental to her family.
Mani’s attorney, Asanda Phakade, says it wouldn’t be in the interest of justice to impose a sentence of direct imprisonment on his client.
The state called for imprisonment during the pre-sentencing hearing.
The state says Mani was an adult at the time of the crime and was well aware of the Intellimali system and how it works.
The state also says as a student leader she knew the consequences of her actions when she spent the money on prohibited items.
VIDEO: Mani pleads for a lesser sentence:
Protest
During Mani’s appearance earlier this month, hundreds of students gathered outside the court to show support for their convicted fellow student.
One of the supporters, Sinoyolo Mfaxa, believes that the court was wrong to find Mani guilty.
“As the constituency and students at large, we believe that Sibongile is innocent. Sibongile is us, we are viewed as poor and marginalised. We are black and we are oppressed. We are willing to go all wild to do anything possible,” says Mfaxa.
Pre-sentencing proceedings in NSFAS theft case against Sibongile Mani:
