An unregistered facility claiming to be a traditional medicine training school was shut down in the Ladysmith CBD last week – after enrolling hundreds of students and issuing numerous unaccredited qualifications.
Deputy Minister of Education Dr Mimmy Gondwe arrived at the offices on Friday with police, where a solitary man working in the offices was unable to provide satisfactory answers to any questions, reports Northern Natal News.
He was told to call the “director of the school” and the conversation put on speaker phone. When Gondwe asked him why he was operating illegally, he replied that he had started the process of registration and was awaiting a response from the department, which was found not to be true.
It was discovered that none of the qualifications that had been issued – diplomas, degrees and PhDs – was registered with the South African Qualifications Authority, and were all fake.
When asked where he conducted classes, the premises being a small, dark office, he replied that his classes are offered online only.
The school has about 150 enrolled students, each paying a minimum of R8 500.
Gondwe ordered the facility to close down immediately, before opening a case at Ladysmith Police Station.
The Deputy Minister’s visit marks a significant step in strengthening community awareness, promoting institutional accountability, and ensuring that pupils are guided towards accredited and credible post-school opportunities, said a spokesperson.
Northern Natal News article – Bogus medical school closed down in Ladysmith CBD (Open access)
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