Sibongile Mani, a former student activist at Walter Sisulu University in Gqeberha, has received a suspended five-year jail term.
The sentence was handed down by the Eastern Cape division of the high court sitting in Makhanda, formerly Grahamstown, on Monday.
The sentence came with conditions that Mani should not be convicted of an offence involving fraud or theft during the period of suspension.
Community service
The court also ordered that she undergoes three years of correctional supervision.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mani is to perform 576 hours of community service at a community institution without compensation and attend counselling and rehabilitative programmes offered by the Department of Correctional Services.
She will also be monitored by a correctional official as delegated by the head of community corrections in Komani, formerly Queenstown.
NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said the NPA welcomes the judgment after Mani had filed an appeal.
Mani received more than R14-million which was erroneously deposited into her student account from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
At the time of her arrest less than six months after she had received the money in 2017, Mani had already spent more than R800 000.
“The court found that Mani knew that her actions were unlawful, and therefore had the intent to commit fraud,” said Tyali.
“Before the R14-million which was deposited into her account erroneously, she never spent her R1 400 monthly stipend on prohibited items.”
76-day spending spree
Reports say after the money reflected on Mani’s account, she went on a 76-day spending spree, splurging over R800 000 on several prohibited items including 11 blankets, nine bath sheets, various shorts for men, alcohol, cigarettes, 24 jackets and handbags.
“She also spent the money in different towns which was proof that she had planned the theft,” Tyali said.
“The court found that the above matters and the fact that she was a student activist who knew and understood the processes of student financial aid, demonstrated that she deliberately committed the theft and knew that what she was doing was wrong.”
Mani did not take the court into her confidence, declining to testify during her trial and choosing to exercise her right of remain silent.
The court predominantly relied on the evidence of the state to arrive at its ruling.
