Around 20,000 students are still being investigated for allegedly receiving irregular NSFAS funding.
The money was improperly claimed by unqualified students and mismanaged between 2016 and 2021.
An investigation, led by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), has already resulted in the recovery of R1.7-billion, with officials confirming that all recovered funds were obtained through enforcement action, not voluntary disclosures.
Despite repeated calls for affected families to come forward, the SIU says no student or family has voluntarily disclosed irregular funding to date.
“There has been no special treatment for any student who volunteers information to us,” SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said.
“In fact, we have not had any person come to us voluntarily. All cases currently under investigation were identified through our own processes.”
However, the SIU made it clear that coming forward does not result in reduced penalties or debt relief.
Students found to have benefited irregularly are required to repay the full amount determined by investigators.
“There are no reduced penalties, payment discounts or waivers available. You repay the full debt as determined by the investigation,” Kganyago said.
For families unable to repay the full amount immediately, the SIU says it does offer repayment arrangements.
“We allow each student to repay the money over a period of up to 60 months if they cannot afford to make a full and final payment,” the SIU explained.
While much of the recovery process is civil in nature, the SIU confirmed that criminal charges are being pursued in certain cases.
“There are several cases that have been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further processing,” Kganyago said.
“In some instances, if it is both civil and criminal referrals made against students who were incorrectly funded.”