Student mistakenly gets $1 million instead of $100 in financial aid. Her next 73 days were unreal

A university student in South Africa went on a 73-day spending spree after accidentally getting $1 million in financial aid. The oversight that occurred at Walter Sisulu University in Eastern Cape province led to the student spending over $60,000. The student Sibongile Mani, who was supposed to get $100 in her financial aid debit card for books and food, was finally exposed by another student who grew suspicious of her expenditure.

An incredible ride for the student

The massive overallocation of funds happened back in 2017 when four extra zeroes were added to the student's financial aid payment under the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

Mani, who was 27 at the time, usually got 1,400 rands or $100 back then. The stipend given for food and books was immediately available to the student, according to Intellimali, the company that issued the student cards, Herald Live reported.

Mani first raised eyebrows when she turned up to school with nearly $200-a-time Peruvian weaves,  designer outfits, and a brand-new iPhone 7.

Mani also began flashing the cash to her closest friends and began drinking expensive whiskies with them. She even flew her friends around the country buying them the best seats for wild parties.

She threw surprise birthday parties, showered her friends with gifts, and helped them emulate their idols and pop stars like Beyonce while on campus. This allegedly went on for 73 days during which Mani spent over $60,000, as per CNN.

The fun comes to an end

Mani's opponents at the campus grew suspicious of her newly acquired spending habits. What finally gave her away was a bank receipt that she left behind at a supermarket. She was then reported to the authorities by a fellow student of the college.

“When the receipt was leaked showing a balance of R13.6 million (~$1,050,000 at the time) in her account, I called NSFAS and they checked their records and confirmed that the initial amount was R14 million (~$1,080,000)," Samkelo Mqhayi, branch secretary of the South African Students Congress, told Herald Live.

Mani was then reported to the police and charged with theft and fraud. The mother of two was eventually sentenced to jail for five years in 2022.

However, her lawyer Asanda Pakade appealed the decision insisting that her being found guilty of a crime didn't make sense at all.  In a state given to News24 after the sentencing on Mani, the lawyer said that when she received the unexpected amount, she was barely surviving and couldn't even afford a loaf of bread.

He also argued that Mani had a better future ahead of her as she had a degree in accounting, a diploma in internal auditing, a post-graduate certificate in education, and was pursuing an honors degree in education when the error happened.

In a hearing in the East London High Court in Makhanda in 2023, Mani's sentence was suspended. She was instead ordered to complete 576 hours (nearly three and a half weeks) of unpaid community service and undergo regular counseling and rehabilitative programs.