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A Pretoria nightclub that had placed an advertisement calling on students to spend their National Student Financial Aid Scheme money at the establishment has come under fire.
Europa Lounge Experience has since deleted its social media advert promoting student nights on Wednesdays.
The advert promoted NSFAS “Ingenile” Student Night Wednesday with a picture of cider specials.
“Ingenile” means "it is in", in reference to the NSFAS pay-out.
NSFAS Board Chairperson, Ernest Khosa visited the club on Thursday after the organisation had issued a scathing statement this week.
Khosa took a video outside of the establishment with the South African Police Service and other board members.
In the video, Khosa says: “We met the owners and we told them that it is illegal and utterly immoral.”
He says he further warned the organisation that they should stop advertising alcohol using the NSFAS name, or face legal consequences.
“They have apologised and since withdrawn the advert from their posts and have undertaken to write a statement to that effect.”
NSFAS Board Chairperson, Mr Ernest Khosa accompanied by the NSFAS board members visited Europa Lounge to discuss the disturbing advertising stunt by the establishment. Check out the video to hear what the Chairperson had to say regarding the advert.#NSFAS2023 pic.twitter.com/0inqDIhRBx
— NSFAS (@myNSFAS) March 2, 2023
Khosa reiterated that students should not use NSFAS allowances for alcohol.
Meanwhile, NSFAS said in the March 1 statement that with the new direct payment system, through the NSFAS Bank Account, the organisation would “track and monitor” students purchasing trends, with a view of putting measures in place to ensure that allowances are spent accordingly.
Since the public outcry, Europa Lounge Experience has deleted posts relating to NSFAS but maintained the cider specials.
It said in a statement: “There is a flyer in circulation promoting an event at Europa regarding a student financial aid scheme, NO EVENT of such nature is happening on our premises.”
“We do not condone or encourage any events of this nature. We sincerely apologise to our customers & various stakeholders affected by the unauthorized marketing that occurred.”
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