Drive to claw back funds

NSFAS: SIU Briefs MPs on Probe into Irregularities at Student Funding Body

- Jarryd Westerdale

Poor accounting, dubious applications and a lack of oversight have resulted in an abuse of government student funding. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) last Friday briefed the portfolio committee on higher education and training on the progress of its investigation into irregularities at the National Student Funding Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

The SIU is tasked with recovering funds incorrectly paid by NSFAS to universities, TVETs and undeserving applicants. Officials said they had recovered R2 billion in funds erroneously paid to universities.

They told parliament they had identified roughly 40 000 improper NSFAS recipients.

Investigators have been traveling across the country auditing the systems, processes and records of universities, then cross-referencing their findings with NSFAS records.

Investigators said record-keeping at NSFAS and tertiary education institutions was poor, especially at identified TVET colleges.

"When you look for data or information, they do not have it and they do not know where the information is," said SIU chief operating officer Leonard Lekgetho.

"They can't succinctly explain how they account for all the funds that come in and how the funds are allocated to the student accounts," he said.

Of the 76 institutions on the SIU list, they are still to visit 12.