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Gershwin Chuenyane

THE Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) hired the services of private investigators last year to crack a syndicate that fraudulently helped students qualify for student loans.

The investigators used an undercover operator who pretended to need his results amended to qualify for a National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) loan.

Students acting as agents for the corrupt financial aid bureau officials allegedly carried a bag full of NSFAS forms for customers, the operator said.

Fani Maimela, a senior education student at the time, would allegedly recruit potential students for a R1 500 non-refundable fee irrespective of whether they qualified for a bursary or not.

Cases of theft and fraud totalling R160 000 have since been opened at the Soshanguve police station against Maimela (R40 000) and three other financial aid bureau officials – Metja Mongalo (R40 000), Tebogo Moleshiwa (R40 000) and a former financial aid bureau employee whose contract was not renewed.

The figure was based on the number of students who came forward to make affidavits detailing the officials’ activities.

The probe discovered that 140 students had two sets of results on the system – their real ones and the amended ones – said TUT chief internal auditor Vincent Dlamini.

Soshanguve police spokesperson Solly Marindi confirmed the cases were opened this week.

Maimela said he did what he did out of concern for the poor people in his community.

“I was just helping fellow students from my community. I never stole anyone’s money . . . I was helping destitute students from my community. I did it out of love. I wanted them to study,” he said.

Moleshiwa and Mongalo confirmed their dismissal from TUT, but claimed they had been framed and knew nothing of the accusations. Mongalo said she had won her case at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and was waiting to be reinstated. Dlamini said TUT had applied for a review of the matter.

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