The so-called accidental payment of R14 million to a student at Walter Sisulu University is baffling and smacks of gross negligence, maladministration and neglect of legal obligations to safe guard public monies, which may be characterised as a corrupt activity. This happens when other students are erroneously given R46 by the same University.

The UDM demands that a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances that led to this saga be conducted by the Department of Higher Education and Training with speed. All suspects must be subjected to the full might of the law.

Both the WSU and NSFAS cannot escape accountability when dealing with public funds meant for public use and for the provision of a fee free education for the most vulnerable poor students. It is estimated that 10000 students could have received funding from this wrongful management of funds. The minister must account on action he has taken around this issue to resolve it within two weeks. The public must closely monitor these funds to uncover other instances of mismanagement and corruption.

 

Issued by UDM