JOHANNESBURG - An investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has revealed serious maladministration in the Free State Provincial Government Bursary Scheme amounting to more than R8 million.
This information was disclosed by SIU head Leonard Lekgetho during a media briefing on Tuesday.
According to the SIU, the government official awarded bursaries to deceased students without following due process, as well as to foreign nationals who were not eligible under the policy.
The awarding of these bursaries is said to have taken place between 2019 and 2020.
READ | SIU to freeze Ex-Tembisa Hospital official's assets
In the case of the foreign nations, Lekgetho said seven students were awarded funding, of which six were funded on a merit basis as top achievers.
This raised red flags because the SIU found no approval to deviate from the policy, which specifies that bursaries are for South African citizens residing in the Free State, Lekgetho explained.
Additionally, the SIU investigations found that a deceased student from the University of the Free State was also funded.
The deceased had received funding not just from the Office of the Premier but from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) as well.
READ | Not the first time| How Nsfas ended up under administration again
hat amount from Nasfas was R13 000, while R35 891.60 came from the office of the Premier.
Those officials from the office who approved and extended the bursary have been identified.
“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 pay back the money,” Lekgetho said.
Other discoveries include:
Funding that was intended to support a student finishing 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 bursaries to applicants for qualifications not included in the 2018 and 2019 Provincial Workplace Skills Plan.
Overall, Lekgetho said a total of 161 students and 16 officials from various government departments benefited from these irregularities.
“SIU has made 38 disciplinary referrals against the implicated officials, including human resources officials, administration clerks, Assistant Directors, Deputy Directors and Directors.
Furthermore, the SIU has signed 18 Acknowledgements of Debt totalling R1.9 million with individuals who received undue benefits from the bursary scheme. To date, a total of R283 571 has been received by the SIU through instalments," he said.
Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae said the disciplinary process for the eight employees involved in these irregularities would be executed.
“Our objective is to ensure that eligibility requirements, approval, and oversight mechanisms are clearly defined and consistently applied,” she said.