A student Sbongile Mani was found guilty of using NSFAS money which was mistakely sent to her.

The Story of Sibongile Mani: A Student Caught in an Unbelievable Financial Error

Sbongile Mani, a South African student, became the center of national controversy in 2017 after a banking error resulted in a massive overpayment into her student financial aid account. The incident led to legal consequences, public debate, and discussions about financial accountability in South Africa.

As a student at Walter Sisulu University (WSU), Mani was a recipient of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), which typically provided her with a R1,400 monthly allowance. However, due to a system error, a staggering R14 million was mistakenly deposited into her account.

Instead of reporting the mistake, Sbongile spent approximately R800,000 over 76 days, indulging in luxury items such as expensive clothing, alcohol, gadgets, and entertainment. Her sudden wealth and extravagant spending quickly drew attention, leading to an investigation.