Sibongile Mani, a Walter Sisulu University student who spent more than R800 000 of the R14 million in funds mistakenly deposited to her account by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in 2017 has been found guilty of theft.
In handing down her judgement, Magistrate Twanette Olivier of the East London Regional Court stated that the student was well aware of the specifications of her NSFAS loan agreement and that her actions did not indicate any lack of knowledge.
Olivier said, "The accused is described as a student activist in her own right, was in a leadership position at the university in 2017 and also the secretary of a student organisation".
Based on the above alone, can it be said that the accused did not know the loan amount of the agreement she entered into in her second year of studies? The court is satisfied that the version of the state is reliable
Mani was only entitled to R1400 for food allowance but received R14 million instead. She then failed to report the R14 million deposited and instead chose to spend R818 000 of it on various luxury items and student parties before the funds were eventually blocked by Intellimali.
In noting the guilty verdict against Mani, Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture, Mr Elleck Nchabeleng said that the conviction needed to serve as a lesson to Mani that theft does not pay.
She added that it would be preferable if the sentence would include an option to enter into debt acknowledgement with Intellimali and possibly to undergo a communal sentence. Mani is due to make another court appearance for pre-sentencing on 8 March 2022.
