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The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has referred seven individuals, including a former Free State premier, to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for possible criminal prosecution over the misuse of R8.3 million from the provincial government's bursary scheme. The investigation uncovered financial irregularities, policy violations, and systemic corruption within the office of the premier. The SIU also briefed the media on its findings, which implicated directors, deputy directors, seven foreign students, and a premier's personal assistant in the looting of the bursary scheme. The investigation spanned from 2017 to 2023 and revealed that bursaries were awarded to undeserving individuals, including a deceased student who received funding from both the premier's office and Nsfas. The SIU has recovered R6.3 million from universities and signed 18 acknowledgements of debt totaling R1.9 million with individuals who received undue benefits.
Investigators have referred seven individuals, including a former premier, to the NPA for possible prosecution as it seeks to recover R8.3mThe SIU briefs the media on the Free State bursary scheme investigation that looked into financial irregularities, policy violations and systemic corruption within the office of the premier.
Picture:Directors, deputy directors, seven foreign students, a former premier and a premier’s personal assistant are some of the people implicated in the looting of the Free State government’s bursary scheme. At least R8.3m was misused between 2017 and 2023 by awarding the premier’s office bursary to undeserving individuals.
On Tuesday, the Special Investigating Unit held a press briefing in which it said it was seeking to recover R8.3m linked to the The SIU disclosed that among the funds irregularly disbursed was R34,000 awarded to a deceased student by the bursary and further funds from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme . At least 18 acknowledgements of debt totalling R1.9m have been signed with individuals who received undue benefits from the bursary scheme, the unit said.
The investigation into allegations of manipulated financial allocations implicated officials who served during the administrations of former Free State premiers Ace Magashule and Sisi Ntombela. The bursary is for South African citizens from households that earn less than R600,000 a year and live in the Free State. It excludes government employees. The SIU said it was investigating allegations that Ntombela could have benefited together with Magashule’s former personal assistant, Moroadi Cholota.
“The investigation revealed that officials approved bursaries negligently, failed to comply with the eligibility criteria, and irregularly extended bursary contracts,” he said. Lekgetho said one of the most concerning findings involved a deceased student who received funding from both the premier’s office and Nsfas.
“The scheme paid R34,000 to the University of the Free State, which deposited the money into a suspense account after the student’s death. Nsfas also paid R13,000 into the student’s bank account, which his parents used.
“Since the student had died before completing his studies, the funds could not be recovered, especially since the proclamation did not cover Nsfas. The parents also lack the means to repay the money,” Lekgetho said.had identified the officials who approved both the bursary and its extension. The investigation also found that seven foreigners received bursaries from the office of the premier. Six of them were funded on a merit basis as top-achieving students.
SIU briefs media on the Free State Provincial Government Bursary Scheme investigation that is to uncover financial irregularities, policy violations and systemic corruption within the office of the premier. Reporter: @Koena Mashale Video: @Sinazo Magaba KosHe said the investigation further found that officials failed to properly monitor excess funds held in university suspense accounts. The SIU has since tracked down and recovered R6,3m from seven universities.
“The SIU has signed 18 acknowledgements of debt totalling R1.9m with individuals who received undue benefits from the bursary scheme. To date, a total of R283,571 has been received by the SIU through instalment payments,” he said. The SIU has made 38 disciplinary referrals against implicated officials, including deputy directors and directors. A further seven individuals have been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for possible criminal prosecution.
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