Bursaries given to foreign nationals, relatives, and even a dead student

A Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation showed that bursaries were given to foreign nationals, relatives, and even a deceased student.

The investigation was initiated following a referral from the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) concerning irregularities.

It focused on the affairs of the Office of the Premier in the Free State and has uncovered serious maladministration.

Leonard Lekgetho, acting head of the SIU, said they uncovered irregularities in the management of bursary and youth-funding programmes in the Free State.

The awarding of the bursaries in question took place during Ace Magashule’s tenure as Premier of the province.

“The SIU’s investigation revealed that officials approved bursaries negligently, failed to comply with the eligibility criteria, and irregularly extended bursary contracts,” he said.

The investigation also confirmed that a deceased student had received bursaries from the Office of the Premier and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

“The Office of the Premier paid R34,892 to the University of the Free State, which deposited the money into a suspense account after the student’s death,” he said.

Lekgetho added that NSFAS also paid R13,000 into the student’s bank account, which his parents used.

“Since the student had died before completing his studies, the funds could not be recovered, especially since the proclamation did not cover NSFAS,” he said.

The investigation also showed that seven students who received the bursary were foreign nationals.

However, the SIU found no approval to deviate from the policy, which specifies that bursaries are for South African citizens residing in the Free State.

According to Lekgetho, a total of R8.3 million was spent, benefiting 161 students and 16 officials from various government departments.

Lekgetho said the SIU has made 38 disciplinary referrals against officials implicated in the maladministration.

Deeply entrenched corruption and fraud in the Free State

said the investigation showed how deeply entrenched corruption and fraud are in the Free State.

“This is just another instalment in a series of scandals that played out under ANC rule in the Free State,” Cloete said.

“The ANC is the number one accused in this matter. If the Auditor-General had not identified the irregularities, it is unlikely that any action would have been taken.”

He added that the sudden endorsement of the SIU’s findings by the Free State Premier, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, is too little, too late.

“She cannot pretend to be an advocate for sound governance now, seeing as these irregularities occurred over a number of years under ANC rule,” he said.