JOHANNESBURG – An investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has revealed serious mismanagement in the Free State Provincial Government Bursary Scheme, worth more than R8 million.
This information was announced by SIU head Leonard Lekgetho during a media briefing on Tuesday.
According to the SIU, the government official awarded scholarships to deceased students without following due process, as well as to foreigners who did not qualify under the policy.
These grants would have been awarded between 2019 and 2020.
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In the case of the foreign nations, Lekgetho said seven students received funding, six of whom were funded on merit as top performers.
This raised red flags as the SIU did not find approval to deviate from the policy, which specifies that scholarships are for South African citizens living in the Free State, Lekgetho explained.
In addition, the SIU investigation revealed that a deceased University of the Free State student was also funded.
The deceased had received funding not only from the Prime Minister’s Office, but also from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
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Nasfas’ amount was R13,000, while R35,891.60 came from the Prime Minister’s office.
The agency officials who approved and extended the grant have been identified.
“Since the student had died before completing his studies, the money could not be recovered, especially since the proclamation did not cover NSFAS. The parents also do not have the means to repay the money,” Lekgetho said.
Other discoveries include:
Funding that was intended to support a student completing a degree in three years was instead distributed over the seven years it took the student to complete the degree.
In some cases, the Office of the Premier awarded scholarships to candidates for qualifications not included in the 2018 and 2019 Provincial Workplace Skills Plan.
In total, according to Lekgetho, a total of 161 students and 16 officials from various government departments benefited from these irregularities.
“SIU has filed 38 disciplinary referrals against the officials involved, including human resources officers, administrative assistants, deputy directors, deputy directors and directors.
In addition, the SIU has signed 18 guilty pleas totaling R1.9 million to individuals who received unlawful benefits from the grant scheme. To date, the SIU has received a total of R283,571 in instalments,” he said.
Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae said disciplinary proceedings would be carried out for the eight employees involved in these irregularities.
“Our goal is to ensure that eligibility requirements, approval and oversight mechanisms are clearly defined and applied consistently,” she said.
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