DStv Channel 403 Saturday, 02 November 2024

NSFAS probe | Ineligible students got over R5bn

JOHANNESBURG - NSFAS has spent over R5-billion to pay or overpay students who do not qualify for funding.

The Special Investigating Unit is now vowing to get every cent of that amount back.

Unit Head Andy Mothibi told Scopa that over 4,000 students didn't qualify for funding since 2017.

READ: Higher education | NSFAS working on solving student issues

They were provided with money nonetheless.

Gauteng leads the pack with almost R2-billion spent on 17,000 students.

In the Western Cape, 5,400 students benefited from R787-million.

READ: University students criticise NSFAS accommodation allowances

Students with household incomes of over R350,000 annually don’t qualify.

The SIU has found that many did not submit that information or used their grandparents' details.

It also found some students had dropped out, but NSFAS continued to pay.

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