NSFAS fraud: Former SRC member at North West TVET college arrested for defrauding students
Former SRC member arrested for defrauding students of NSFAS allowances
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A 24-year-old former Student Representative Council (SRC) member at Rustenburg TVET College has been arrested for allegedly defrauding first-year students of their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances.
The suspect was apprehended on December 3 in Rustenburg in the North West by members of the Hawks’ Serious Economic Offences Section based at the organisation’s Pretoria headquarters.
The SAPS statement stated that first-year NSFAS-funded students approached the woman in 2023 seeking help to access their allowances.
As an SRC member at the time, she reportedly had prior access to students’ Tenet accounts.
It is alleged that she used this access to log into several student accounts without permission.
She then allegedly withdrew money at various retail stores before later advising the students on how to access their allowances - after the funds had already been misappropriated.
A total of R14 000 was unlawfully withdrawn from the accounts of seven students. A case was opened and transferred to the Hawks for investigation, which led to her arrest.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court today.