Sibongile Mani was eventually caught after her extravagant spending raised suspicions among those around her.
Imagine waking up to find nearly $1,000,000 unexpectedly deposited in your bank account. Would you embark on a lavish spending spree, or would the fear of potential repercussions prompt you to report the error?
This was the real-life scenario faced by Sibongile Mani, a student at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in South Africa.
At the time, 32-year-old Mani depended on financial aid for her education, typically receiving about $100 monthly for food. One morning, she discovered that due to a clerical error, she had received 14 million rands (approximately $760,000 at the time of writing) from the government aid scheme.
Despite the funds being transferred by mistake, Mani seized the moment for a massive shopping spree.
Over the next few days, she indulged in designer clothing, the latest iPhone, and premium bottles of liquor, among other luxury purchases.
Sibongile Mani had already spent over $40,000 of the mistakenly transferred funds when a discarded supermarket receipt led to her capture. Samkelo Mqhayi, a branch secretary of the South African Students Congress, told Herald Live at the time, “Her spending spiked suddenly. A leaked supermarket receipt showed she had 13.6 million rand in her account. She had been hosting lavish parties for her friends and lavishing them with gifts without a care.”
In 2017, Mani was reported to the police and subsequently arrested, facing charges of theft and fraud. By 2022, she was sentenced to five years in prison. However, her lawyer, Asanda Pakade, appealed the sentence on the basis that Mani posed no threat to society and had not actively sought the erroneously transferred money.
Despite the legal actions, Mani was not required to repay the funds. She regarded the unexpected windfall as a ‘miracle’ and a ‘gift from God,’ claiming she never hesitated to spend it.
In a 2023 hearing at the East London High Court in Makhanda, two judges decided to suspend Mani’s sentence, contingent on her not committing any further theft or fraud. Additionally, Mani was ordered to complete 14 weeks of community service and receive counseling, but she still was not required to return the spent money.
Following the suspension of her sentence, Pakade expressed Mani’s relief and gratitude, noting she was eager to move past the ordeal and rebuild her life, which had been significantly disrupted by the events.