NSFAS sent a student R14m, she loses it by going viral

Update: The university told EWN yesterday that she had the money for five months, while the student and chief executive of IntelliMali told The Star she acquired the funds in June.

Original article: It’s a common meme among students that they’re looking to get hit by a car so they can sue, pay off their loans, and get a good amount of time away from school. But one lucky student in the Eastern Cape didn’t even need the pain to get that pleasure.

The Walter Sisulu University in the Eastern Cape has confirmed it accidentally sent a student R14-million straight to her debit account — and only noticed when she started posting her receipts online.

This pic of her “living it up” is floating around kwi Whatsapp groups. People are angry pic.twitter.com/Mn85YZpfzL

— Chwayita (@ChwayMadikane) August 29, 2017

The student, who should have been receiving some kind of bursary allowance from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), received the money five months ago and has been living it up ever since. It is believed she spent over R500 000.

It seems she may have kept it up, too, were it not for her need to boast on social media — where it seems most are judging her.

“NSFAS” was trending on Twitter Wednesday morning, with many decrying its carelessness and the fact that R14-million could have paid many a tuition.

While other WSU students are busy striking for meals allowance loqabane yena wenza iParty nge R14 million ka NSFAS ..What a wow! 💔 pic.twitter.com/skLwOIwJKB

— Pearl (@Pelisa_Sitifini) August 29, 2017

NSFAS has been an important part of the conversation of free education over the past two years as students have protested across the country — and this debacle hints at an air of indifference on the scheme’s part at best, and at worst points to a bigger problem of corruption.

While most students drop out of institutions due to financial difficulties, #NSFAS gives 14mil to one student . What the hell???

— Mbongiseni Mchunu (@SG_Factor) August 29, 2017

I don’t believe this ‘mistake’ is innocent.Are there no checks & balances at @NSFAS to detect such glaring anomalies? #NSFAS

— Penny Mkalipe (@ThipenThwa) August 30, 2017

NSFAS, whose financial aid functions as a loan, says that the student will have to “repay every cent of the money spent even if it takes 20 years to do so” — but one user has offered up advice.

One of the NSFAS terms and conditions is that you must be employed for you to pay back, so I hope she saved then cry about unemployment pic.twitter.com/4gBa9vT5Ml

— Don тнαвαηg Daniels (@HelloMrDaniels) August 29, 2017

Unfortunately for the student (or not, depending on where you stand), many have criticised her spending — but some don’t buy the righteousness.

I genuinely wouldn’t spend R500k that isn’t mine. https://t.co/enSbhAYxPW

— Lelo (@Chef_Lelo) August 30, 2017

Comrades tweeting acting all self righteous about the R14m #NSFAS… We see you! pic.twitter.com/4NjiBLAuLN

— Tshimo Leeuw (@TsHiMo_Leo) August 30, 2017

What would you do if R14-million mysteriously found its way into your bank account?