According to Correctional Services probation officer Unathi Mahlanyana, who delivered a report to court on Tuesday as part of pre-sentencing arguments, sending Sibongile Mani to prison would be unfortunate and had the potential to harm her future.
Mani, a Walter Sisulu University student, was found guilty of theft in the amount of R818 000 by an East London regional court in February after Intellimali, the university’s NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) service provider, deposited R14 million into her student account on June 1, 2017.
Mani has been out on bond since his arrest in May 2018.
Mani did not disclose the issue because she was only entitled to R1 400 as part of her monthly allowance. Instead, she embarked on a three-month buying frenzy until the error was detected and her credit card was suspended.
Asanda Pakade, her defense counsel, cited the report and appealed for a suspended sentence, claiming that she was a single mother of two children with a bright future.
He said that Mani’s actions did not result in financial losses for the NSFAS, and that the Intellimali could have recovered the losses through other means.
Pakade pleaded with the court to give his client the chance to contribute to society through her education, saying Mani is contrite and regrets her conduct.
He further stated that the accused posed no threat to society and that her crime should not be construed as one committed with the intent of committing a criminal.
The state, on the other hand, adopted a tough stance and demanded that Mani be imprisoned for a minimum of 15 years. Mani had no intention of stopping stealing the money if the error had not been found, according to state prosecutor advocate Jacques Cilliers.
Intellimali suffered a loss as a result of her activities, he added, emphasizing that what was lost could never be regained.
Cilliers went on to say that the defendant chose not to take the court into her confidence and instead pled guilty, and that she is now expressing sorrow since she realizes she is in serious trouble. He warned the court that stealing should not be tolerated and that those who are found guilty of it should face severe repercussions.
The case has been rescheduled for sentence on March 30th by Magistrate Twanet Olivier.
Mani’s only offense, according to Zandisiwe Nyimbane, the Walter Sisulu University SRC secretary at the Komani campus, was being a black person, and that the accused should have been prosecuted alongside the person who placed the money into her student account.
