Project W recently spoke to Wits Vuvuzela to set the record straight about the allegations of mismanagement of funds.
An article that was published by Wits Vuvuzela revealed that Project W is under investigation, for mismanagement of funds collected during an iPad raffle competition held in 2014.
Dr. Pamela Dube, Dean of Students at Wits University, confirmed to Wits Vuvuzela that, “A separate process is being conducted together with Project W pertaining to allegations about them.”
But Project W says that they have no knowledge of this investigation.
The organisation also said that it was inaccurate to allege that R50000 was collected in the raffle competition. The actual amount was R10 370, which is the amount that they raised last year for the iPad raffle.
“We never raised R50 000, at no particular point did we say we raised R50 000” said Jamie Mighti, member of Project W. “I don’t know where Shaeera gets that number, R50 000.”
Mighti said that the money from the raffle was initially meant to go the Humanitarian Fund but the organisation later decided that they would instead contribute the proceeds to their own textbook fund. At the time posters about the raffle which had already been printed and put up advertised that funds collected would go to the Humanitarian Fund, but Project W later made it clear to the Student Representative Council that the money raised would not go the Humanitarian Fund.
Project W revealed that they had made numerous posts on their Facebook page about their text book fund, which is what they have used the money for. Evidence provided by Thamsanqa Pooe, President of Project W, indicated that the money was used for the text book fund.
“Thanks to all those Witsies who helped raise money for the textbook fund. Project W has been able to hand over R15000 worth of books over the last semester for students,” read’s a post that the organisation had put up Facebook on May 13.
What about the car raffle?
The earlier article published by Wits Vuvuzela mentioned that the car raffle that project W was hosting this year was cancelled due to the investigation. Project W however has confirmed that as far as they know, the win a car raffle was not cancelled but instead put on hold.
“The raffle was not cancelled in the first instance, there were some things which were not aware we had to comply with, which we have complied with. We are pending to resume the raffle “, said Mighti, who added that, “Comrades complained and said we were campaigning and that’s why the raffle was suspended.”
Pooe added that, “With the car raffle, the purpose is to raise money for students with outstanding fees… when we raise money, we raise money, solely for students.”