Government officials want the accounting student convicted for pocketing R818 000 from NSFAS to continue her studies at the Walter Sisulu University.
Parliament’s Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture has called for 31-year-old Sibongile Mani to finish her studies, despite being convicted of theft at the East London Regional Court on Monday.
The court found that she unlawfully spent R818 000 out of R14 million which had been erroneously paid into her student account.
She spent the money at 48 winkels in three cities – East London, Centurion and Johannesburg – in a two-month shopping spree, before her student account was blocked.
She spent the kroon on dop, entjies, blankets, clothes for men, jackets, handbags, furniture, beauty products and groceries.
Her monthly stipend for food from NSFAS was R1400.
She did not testify to her crimes and denied wrongdoing, but admitted to spending the money.
Magistrate Twanette Olivier found Mani had spent the money in different towns, which was proof that the student had planned the theft, and knew her actions were unlawful.
Despite Mani’s conviction, the committee chairperson Elleck Nchabeleng said Mani should be allowed to finish her studies and get a job so that she can pay back the stolen NSFAS money, reports IOL.
“The committee calls on all those who are concerned to provide support to the student and that she be allowed to finish her studies,” Nchabeleng said, after stating it is a lesson for Mani that theft does not pay.
“Ms Mani is a National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) beneficiary, without whose support she will struggle to pay back the money, as well as finish her studies,” he added.
Nchabeleng said it was preferable that Mani’s sentence includes an option into debt acknowledgement with Intellimali – the company responsible for distributing NSFAS funds to students at WSU, and the company that opened the case of theft against Mani.
In addition, Nchabaleng said Mani should not be jailed but given a sentence of community service.
National Prosecuting Authority Eastern Cape spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani said Mani was currently out on bail, and the case was postponed to 8 March for the pre-sentence report.