🇿🇦South AfricaSouthern Africa
SIU uncovers maladministration and irregular expenditure in Free State premier bursaries
via The Citizen4 min read
The Special Investigating Unit SIU has revealed significant maladministration, unauthorized bursary awards, and irregular expenditure within the Free State Office of the Premier OTP concerning bursary funds from 2017 to 2018. The investigation, prompted by the Auditor-General of South Africa AGSA, found that officials negligently approved bursaries, failed to adhere to eligibility criteria, and irregularly extended contracts. Bursaries were awarded to relatives of officials, deceased individuals, foreign nationals, and ineligible officials, with millions in university accounts remaining unaccounted for. Specific instances include an official awarding bursaries to relatives without due process, another receiving funding despite not meeting requirements, and an official continuing to receive international bursary benefits after resigning. The SIU also found an irregular expenditure of over R8.3 million due to the OTP contributing 65% instead of 35% to an international scholarship, which the SIU is now seeking to recover. Some students who failed modules had their bursary contracts extended from three to seven years, and bursaries were awarded for qualifications not in the Provincial Workplace Skills Plan. A deceased student received bursaries from both the OTP and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Nsfas, with payments continuing after his death. Seven foreign nationals received bursaries despite the policy requiring South African citizenship, leading to R576,734.48 in e
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