Sibongile Mani, a second-year accountancy undergraduate, had £850,000 credited to her bank account instead of the usual hardship grant of £85
When Sibongile Mani's bank account was credited in error with a sum of £850,000, she probably congratulated herself for the windfall.
Surprisingly, the next thing she thought she should do was to start spending and that was exactly what she did.
In less than three months she had blown £50,000. Mani shared the supposed windfall with friends from Walter Sisulu University in the Eastern Cape. They spoilt themselves splurging on phone and wardrobe upgrades and hair extensions imported from Peru, and developed a taste for single malt whisky. In an unbridled show of vanity, they also did not forget to share selfies online of their high-rolling holidays, shopping sprees and makeovers.
However, the bubble burst when a fellow student discovered a receipt showing that Ms Mani, 28, had £800,000 in the bank. Not unexpectedly, the student decided to blow the whistle.
Ms Mani yesterday appeared at a magistrates’ court in East London on a charge of theft after turning herself in to police.
The company that administers the student aid payments, Tellimali, is pursuing her for the money. She has also been subjected to abuse and threats from other students who say they missed out on funding as a result of her windfall.
No comments:
Post a Comment