Cape Town - Northlink College says the R33 million recovered by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) was not utilised due to various reasons, including beneficiaries having exited the college system before completing their studies.
The technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institution made headlines last week following the recovery of more than R33 million of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) money.
The SIU said the college received funding from the NSFAS for students between 2017 and 2021 and invested it without authorisation.
“The TVET college stated to the SIU that it was fully aware that the funds should have been returned to the NSFAS, but Northlink College failed to do so. Instead (it) decided to invest the funds and would return the funds on request from NSFAS,” the SIU said.
In a statement on Friday, the college said there were various reasons the funds were not utilised.
“The R33 million received from NSFAS over the period was not utilised due to beneficiaries having exited (deregistered, natural attrition, etc.) the college system before the completion of their studies. These amounts paid in error included instances of overpayment by NSFAS as well as payment for students not registered with Northlink College at all.
“We want to assure all of our stakeholders, existing and future students that we are an institution that promotes a culture of ethical leadership, integrity, loyalty and mutual trust,” the college said.
EFF Student Command (EFFSC) has called for those implicated to be held accountable.
“This is not only limited to Northlink, but also to other TVET sectors. There is clearly a syndicate being run across all the TVETs in the Western Cape. To simply recover the money without taking actions against the corrupt management of Northlink College does not resolve the chronic corruption within the higher education in South Africa.”
Cape Times