A South African university has said it mistakenly wired 14m Rand ($1m; £774m) to a student’s personal bank account from a student financial aid scheme, EWN reports.
Walter Sisulu University said the money was deposited five months ago and only noticed the error when a receipt showing the student’s multi-million (rand) account balance was shared on social media.
The university said that it was investigating why the student did not report the cash transfer, but the student disputes this, the report says.
EWN reports that other pictures have also surfaced online showing how the woman splurged on at least one party and luxury goods, including a mobile phone.
It is understood that she’s already spent nearly 400,000 Rand.
University spokesperson Yonela Tukwayo has said that the deposit was made in error by a company which administers National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and that the student will have to refund the money.
“We are also looking at the NSFAS rules, which the child did sign an agreement to adhere to… in terms of how that money should be used. So the student will be liable to repay every cent of the money spent even if it takes 20 years to do so.”
NSFAS in a tweet however denied the allegation, saying that the university is to blame.
“#NSFAS did’nt pay R14 million to one student, it is practically impossible. WSU is responsible for paying students directly. It must account”
