By Mapaballo Borotho
- NSFAS has denied claims that a student received R630,000, saying the viral proof is fake and likely AI-generated.
- The scheme believes the content was created for social media attention and engagement.
- The denial has reignited memories of the 2017 R14 million payout scandal involving Sibongile Mani.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has dismissed claims that a student received R630,434.44 from the institution, calling the circulating reports false and misleading.
This follows social media posts suggesting that a student had received a massive payout from the scheme, sparking widespread attention and debate online.
In a statement, NSFAS said the viral image used to support the claim is not authentic.
“This claim is false and misleading. Preliminary verification indicates that the image circulating online is manipulated and appears to be AI-generated and does not correspond with any legitimate NSFAS transaction. NSFAS has made no such payment,” the scheme said.
According to NSFAS, the student behind the claim allegedly created the content for social media purposes, likely in a bid to gain traction and engagement.
The scheme further emphasised that it does not pay large sums of money directly into students’ personal accounts.
However, this assertion has raised eyebrows, as it appears to contradict a previous high-profile incident involving a student from Walter Sisulu University.
In 2017, Sibongile Mani was mistakenly credited with R14 million by NSFAS. Mani was subsequently sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for theft after spending part of the funds.
Despite the past controversy, NSFAS maintains that its systems remain secure and that no irregular payment has been made in the current case.
“We want to assure students, institutions, and the public that NSFAS systems remain secure and there has been no irregular payment or breach associated with this claim,” the scheme said.
“NSFAS reserves the right to pursue appropriate legal action against individuals who deliberately create or distribute misinformation that harms the reputation and integrity of the Scheme.”
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