NSF Financial Mismanagement: R286 Million Fraud Exposed in South Africa

• South Africans were taken aback by the massive fraud revealed in a report conducted by the National Skills Fund (NSF)
• About R286 million is unaccounted for in five NSF projects that were aimed at assisting the poor
• Reports suggest that Parliament has been aware of the report since 2022 and the Hawks are investigating the beneficiaries

Zingisa Chirwa is an experienced Briefly News journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, who has covered crime and current affairs on the radio for over 15 years.

South Africans were taken aback by the massive fraud revealed in a financial mismanagement report conducted by the Department of Higher Education’s National Skills Fund (NSF).

Parliament aware of funds mismanagement report

According to The Citizen, about R286 million was unaccounted for in the five cases mentioned by Nexus Forensic Service’s audit. The money was earmarked for NSF projects to assist the poor; however, the funds reportedly benefited a select few.

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A report by The City Press stated that one of the recipients failed to account for a R131 million advance they were given to train 1,025 artisans in the Eastern Cape. In KZN, a rabbit farm only spent R1.6 million of its R123 million grant on rabbit breeding.

Parliament has reportedly been aware of the report since 2022, and the Hawks are allegedly continuing their probe into the NSF beneficiaries.

South Africans weigh in

@Miz_Ruraltarain exclaimed:

"ANC corruption knows no boundaries! The Revisionist communist stole from the poor proletariats, so tomorrow they can sit back and slap ordinary South Africans with rhetorics of being unskilled."

@nongalo_scelo stated:

"And no one would be arrested. We know that story."

@Mamkhiwa1 asked:

"Who are the culprits and what’s happening to them?"

@AviciibyAvicii1 said:

"Corruption by the comrades is at another level."

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@Sihle_ZA_ commented:

"This completely broke my heart. To think that so many young people want skills and are living hopelessly without jobs. Devastating."

Gauteng's bid automation plan

Briefly News reported that the Gauteng Provincial government is working on an automated bid adjudication process to reduce tender rigging.

Finance MEC Lebogang Maile said the process would also create transparency and ensure contracts are awarded based on merit.

Many South Africans aren’t convinced by the plan, with some stating that leaders could tamper with the process.

Source: Briefly News