Case of theft opened over R14.1m student deposit

It has been reported she used around R800 000 of the funds

A CASE of theft has been opened at an East London police station in connection with the R14.1 million over-payment to a student at Walter Sisulu University.

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Marinda Mills said IntelliMali officials laid a charge at the Berlin police station yesterday.

IntelliMali is the service provider which managed the allocation of funds at the university on behalf of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

“The case has been assigned to a seasoned investigator and the standard investigative procedures will now be followed,” said Mills.

The payment into the student’s account had allegedly been made in June.

The student, who was supposed to receive R1 400, alleged that she reported the transaction but was not assisted to correct the mistake.

It has been reported that she had used about R800 000 of the funds before the mistake had been noticed last month.

The Department of Higher Education and Training said that the error, allegedly by a service provider at the university, occurred during a payment run to 3 500 students supported by the aid scheme.

The mistake was allegedly only noticed after a receipt of a high bank balance had been posted by the friend of the student.