Walter Sisulu University (WSU) student Sibongile Mani has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for theft relating to R14 million accidentally credited to her account by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in 2017. (Read More Here).
East London Regional Court Magistrate Twanette Olivier found Mani guilty of stealing R818 000 of the funds.
She was only entitled to a R1 400 food allowance and was accused of failing to report when R14 million was credited to her account erroneously. She instead embarked on a spending spree.
Phakade also told the court that her family is dependent on her to become a breadwinner and better the situation at home. He argued that Mani showed remorse and she was young when she committed the offence.
The state told the court that the offence was extremely serious, and that at least 48 students could’ve benefited from the money spent by Mani.
Advocate Jacques Cilliers said: “She was well aware every time she spent, showing the lavish intent she had. She abused the position she had with the university and NSFAS. What she did was not a spur-of-the-moment thing, it was premeditated.”
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