The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says it has returned R1.7 billion to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme purse, which will be allocated to students' needs at institutions of higher education.
The amount is part of the R2 billion that the SIU has so far received from universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and unqualified former students.
“The funds in question were unallocated from 2016 to 2021. These unallocated funds represent financial resources that were designated for students who qualified for funding but later changed institutions or deregistered,” the Special Investigating Unit said in a statement.
“These funds are retained by the institution for one year but in this case, were kept them for more than a year.
“The existence of unallocated funds can be attributed to inadequate control systems and a lack of reconciliation processes implemented by NSFAS during that period, resulting in a failure to recover these funds from institutions of higher learning,” the SIU said.
The corruption busting unit noted the announcement by NSFAS earlier this month to implement the SIU’s systematic recommendations by introducing a framework that includes a data-driven reporting process to ensure timely payments to providers.
This framework will improve accountability, generating monthly occupancy and payment reports. NSFAS stated that it is considering an in-house payment functionality to streamline financial management and eliminate the middleman.
The SIU commended NSFAS for strengthening its systems and moving towards better governance.
Contributing to the R2 billion recovery, the SIU has collected R126 478 184.64 from 1 055 parents and unqualified NSFAS beneficiaries who have signed acknowledgements of debt (AoDs), agreeing to repay the money over time.
The SIU is urging unqualified NSFAS beneficiaries, who have not been in contact with the unit, to come forward and arrange for repayment.
Furthermore, the SIU has received R69 727 824.22 from the University of the Free State. This is the institution’s second payment towards recovering unallocated funds.
The SIU has also received a second payment from the University of Mpumalanga of R5 502 040.09, as well as R15 million from Tshwane North TVET College.
The SIU, in terms of Proclamation R88 of 2022, is authorised to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration in the affairs of NSFAS, and to recover any financial losses suffered by the State through corruption and negligence.
The SIU is empowered to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name, to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during investigations caused by acts of corruption, fraud or maladministration.
In line with the SIU and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU will refer any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action. – SAnews.gov.za
