NSFAS Beneficiary Sibongile Mani, Mistakenly Credited With 14 Million Rand Sentenced To 5 Years Imprisonment For Theft.
Walter Sisulu University Accounting 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.
East London Regional Court Magistrate Twanette Olivier found Mani guilty of stealing R818 000 of the funds to which she was only entitled an allowance of R1400. She is reported to have spent the money on a variety of prohibited items, including alcohol, cigarettes, blankets, clothes for men, jackets, handbags, furniture, beauty products, and groceries at a supermarket in two months.
NPA Eastern Cape spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani states
“However, she spent the R800,000 on a number of prohibited items, which include 11 blankets, nine bath sheets, various shorts for men, a variety of alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, 24 jackets and handbags. She also spent the money in different towns, proving that she had planned the theft.
“The court found that the above matters and the fact that she was a student activist who knew and understood the processes of student financial aid, demonstrated that she deliberately committed the theft and knew that what she was doing was wrong,”
Magistrate Twanette Olivier found Mani concluded that due to the money being spent in different towns, this provides proof of criminal intent despite the vehement denial of wrongdoing from Miss Mani, who was well aware of her actions were unlawful.
Last October, the Walter Sisulu University student attempted to have her case thrown out of court. Her defence attorney, Asanda Pakade, brought forth a discharge application according to section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which allows the accused to be discharged if the court believes there is no evidence the accused committed the offence or may return a verdict of not guilty. Olivier dismissed the application.
With Miss Mani reserving her right to remain silent and failure to testify at her own trial, The NPA said the court had relied on the state’s evidence to follow the due process of the law. Senior Advocate Luthando Makoyi and the Hawks’ Colonel Zane Johnson were congratulated for doing an excellent job to secure the conviction.
South Africans took to social media to share their outrage citing the one-sidedness of justice questioning the accountability on NSFAS’s behalf. South Africans took to social media with a demand to know whether the parties responsible for crediting Ms Mani the money will face any consequences for their actions that have resulted in these harrowing turn of events.
Today Sibongile Mani is known as a thief that “ stole “ money
— Aphelele Jody (@ApheleleJody) March 30, 2022
Are there any arrests for the person who was negligent from @myNSFAS ???
Information Source: News24 & IOL