The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) has denied allegations that it mistakenly paid R5 billion into a student’s account.
ALSO READ: NSFAS applications for 2020 are now open
This comes after a notification purportedly from Capitec bank made rounds on social media at the weekend showing a transfer of R5 billion into the Letaba FET college student’s account.
The student, who was not identified in the post, was allegedly enrolled at the institution’s Maake campus outside Tzaneen in Limpopo.
In a statement, the student financial aid scheme said that they did not make any payment amounting to R5 billion to any student.
“NSFAS STATEMENT OF ALLEGATIONS OF R5BILL PAYMENT. NSFAS became aware of a trend on social media alleging the scheme had paid R5bill into a student’s account.This allegation is not true, & we can confirm that NSFAS did not make any payment amounting to R5 billion to any student.” – they wrote on Twitter
NSFAS STATEMENT OF ALLEGATIONS OF R5BILL PAYMENT. NSFAS became aware of a trend on social media alleging the scheme had paid R5bill into a student’s account.This allegation is not true, & we can confirm that NSFAS did not make any payment amounting to R5 billion to any student.
— NSFAS (@myNSFAS) February 10, 2020
Speaking to TshisaLIVE, NSFAS spokesperson Kagisho Mamabolo said: “NSFAS became aware of serious allegations posted on a social network alleging the scheme had paid R5bn into a student’s bank account. We would like to state that the allegations are not true, and confirm no such movements in our bank accounts.”
“NSFAS did not make payment of R5bn to any of its students. We have controls in place to prevent such things from happening. We urge students to be vigilant at all times and not to fall victim to the ever-increasing scams that have targeted our NSFAS beneficiaries” – he added
The alleged R5bn payout went viral when a person close to the Limpopo student took to Twitter to share how the funds had cleared in the students’ Capitec account on Friday.
“Nsfas deposited R5 000 000 000 into this one’s bank account.” – she tweeted
This is not the first time The National Student Financial Aid Scheme has been embroiled in a scandal of this nature.
In 2017, the financial aid scheme accidentally paid a whopping R14 million to Walter Sisulu University (WSU) student Sibongile Mani. Sibongile spent more than R810 000 of the funds before she was caught.
The student was supposed to get R1 400 as a recipient of a NSFAS food allowance. Mani is currently facing charges in court.
Image Courtesy: sowetanlive.co.za