The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has officially opened a criminal case of theft against a former board member regarding the disappearance of 10 laptops. The devices were part of a donation of 30 laptops intended for distribution to six high schools in the Eastern Cape.
The incident occurred in March 2026 during an Eastern Cape donation drive, where the former board member is alleged to have led the official NSFAS delegation. Employees of the state entity filed the theft case on 6 August 2026 as part of a wider effort to recover institutional integrity.
Investigation And Internal Controls
The current NSFAS Administrator, Professor Hlengani Mathebula, who assumed office on 4 May 2026, described the incident as a violation of the entity’s mandate to support impoverished students. The scheme is currently under administration following the total dissolution of its previous board.
It is shocking that particularly a board member, of an organisation designed to alleviate hardships from economically deprived communities, would be responsible for such an act.
This act by our colleagues is exemplary. It testifies to the fact that we are turning the corner as an organisation, as employees are reclaiming their organisation from the grubby hands of those who have been manipulating it for their own self-enrichment while our children suffered the indignity wrought on by poverty.
Parliamentary Oversight And Next Steps
Mr. Tebogo Letsie, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, has demanded a formal report from the NSFAS administration. The committee is seeking clarity on the specific controls that were in place to govern the distribution of the 30 donated devices.
If substantiated, the alleged conduct would constitute a serious breach of public trust at a time when the entity is already under administration following the dissolution of its board.
The desk will continue to monitor the investigation as it proceeds through the SAPS channels. Further updates regarding the status of the criminal case and the findings of the internal report will be provided as they become available.