Sibongile Mani handed 5-year sentence after splurging NSFAS funds
The Walter Sisulu University student who spent NSFAS funds that were mistakenly deposited into her account has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Sibongile Mani was found guilty of theft after she spent R800 000 of the R14 million that landed in her account in 2017.
During the trial, it emerged the mother of two spent most of the money on alcohol, appliances, furniture, beauty products and data.
Magistrate Twanette Olivier handed down the sentence in the East London Regional Court on Wednesday, saying Mani made conscious decisions.
READ: Court convicts NSFAS millionaire Sibongile Mani
"Had you considered when you started spending lavish amounts on alcohol, luxuries, cigarettes and airtime that if Intellimali did not repay this money, 585 of your fellow students would not receive their monthly food allowance and that is because of your direct actions.
"It appears from the list or the credit, I should say, I stand corrected, it was not items of need. It was not essential items to stay alive. It was luxury items. It was inspired by greed and not need."
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