Naledi got to the third floor of Akasia residence a little out of breath. Gift had her own room, a little comfort that a little money could afford her. Her family was secure, but she didn’t act like a spoilt brat. And that was one reason Naledi was friends with her.

Gift was standing by the door as Naledi walked up the corridor.

“You need to exercise, mngane. I keep saying do yoga with me, but noo,” she said, extending arms for Naledi to collapse into. “There, there,” she teased as they walked into her room.

As soon as Naledi sat down on the bed, Gift asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t think I haven’t noticed. Is it that guy from the cafeteria? Is he giving you a hassle?” She took the packet of chips from Naledi and opened them. “So?” she said, munching.

Naledi burst into tears. Gift put her arm around her and rubbed her back. “Hey, what is it?” she said, very serious now. This was another reason they were friends. When it mattered, Gift was there for her.

Naledi blew her nose on a tissue and then she told Gift everything.

“Quinton, the guy from the office, wants to help me. He wants to see me after work. I don’t know if I can trust him, Gift,” she ended.

“I knew there was something going on. He’s cute.”

“Seriously. He says he can help me but he’s like an intern there. He has no power and the boss doesn’t like him, and she definitely doesn’t like me. She’s the one with all the power. She’s the one the University appointed to manage the loans. Do you think I should believe him? Should I meet him?”

“Maybe hot-stuff wants to have hot, steamy sex with you in his office, to fulfil his last fantasy before he gets fired tomorrow by Cruezelle?” Naledi gave Gift a shocked look. “Really, coz otherwise, why would he want to help you?”

“It’s not funny,” said Naledi, but Gift had got her to laugh.

“On the real though, maybe he will ask you for ‘a little favour’ to put your name back on the list,” Gift said, suddenly more serious.

“No way. He wouldn’t do that.”

“How do you know? Why not? It happens.”

“I’ve heard,” said Naledi. “I thought it was just rumours. I didn’t know it was happening here, on this campus. NSFAS scams.”

“Not rumours. Someone in my class, whose family can defs afford fees, a certain Thando X, is on a NSFAS bursary.”

And then Naledi put the name to the face. It was the guy laughing with Liezelle at the counter, like she was his best buddy. The guy who had almost run her over and ended her career before it had begun.

“The guy in your Socio class?”

“That’s the one. I overheard him speaking to his dad after registration. I was hanging, waiting for that loser, Vuyo, in the parking lot and I heard everything. They were laughing.”

“What were they saying?”

“So Thando said he’d just scored again, second year in a row. And his dad said, ‘Not just once. Three times.’ Then they high-fived. You know what that means?”

“It could mean anything,” said Naledi quickly, but she felt her stomach twist. “Maybe he’s a genius and is winning prizes or …”

“He’s failed first year twice, had to change course, and word is, he isn’t doing so great with the new one either. Plus, there’s no way he needs a bursary. We all know that.”

Gift finished the chips and tossed the packet in the bin. “It’s simple for you mngane. You pay a little money, and your name pops up on the list again. Simple.”

“But that’s wrong. How could you even say it’s ‘simple’?!” Naledi got up from the bed and went to stand by the window.

“Hey chill. I’m not saying do it. I’m just saying it is what is done … by people,” Gift said. She saw Naledi’s shoulders drop. “I’m just saying, it could mean no more fees. All you would do is pay a little up front. I could help.”

“I couldn’t. I …”

“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” said Gift. “It might be the only way.”

Naledi looked at her. For a split second she thought about it, she imagined it, and then she felt sick for even considering it. Money that was meant to help those in need was going into some fat cat’s pocket. If she played that game too she would be just as bad as those politicians who were spending money on themselves … money that was meant for housing and welfare and … and … university fees.

Gift shrugged and flopped on the bed. “I’m just saying that that’s how it is. I know you won’t do it.”

Naledi thought of Thando. It made sense. There must be a paper trail, she thought. There must be a way to find out.

“I’m meeting him,” she said, looking out of the window. She waited for Gift to react, but she didn’t hear anything. She was rummaging through her clothes.

“The guy Quinton. After work. I said I’d meet him in the cafeteria,” she persisted.

“Well if you’re meeting him, you better wear something decent,” Gift said, bringing out a peach-coloured, spaghetti-strap top with embroidered details, and holding it up against her friend. “And these shoes. Perfect,” she said. “He’ll do anything for you.”

But Naledi didn’t feel so sure, as she struggled along in the high heels, back to the cafeteria. This really wasn’t her. Now he would think she was trying to bribe him with favours. Not money – other kinds of favours. She felt like running back to change but she couldn’t run in the heels, and there wasn’t time for that now.

***

Tell us: Have you heard rumours like this, of greedy people ripping off NSFAS to get funds meant for poor students?