Teaching being a sort after career of late throughout South Africa, with many school leavers and season members of the workforce alike, opting to choose the beaten path, and join the education sector. This, however, in theory, is a brilliant development for our youth, as there are now a plethora of competitive youthful to veteran teachers eagerly and with excellent competitiveness dualling for jobs—resulting in a higher calibre of education throughout the country.
Sadly, however, this booming career choice is also seeing schools being either far too lenient with qualifications or worse, some individuals faking tertiary qualifications in order to obtain a job, teaching your children.
This follows the Volksrust Regional Court finding Sibongile Rose Khuzwayo (50) and Nonjabulo Bahle Mabuza (47) guilty of fraud, sentencing them each to ten years imprisonment. Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi explains, “The pair were arrested by members of the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in February 2017.” This, after a probe, revealed they were hired by the Department of Education in July 2006, using fraudulent qualifications.
Khuzwayo took up her post at Hambani Primary School, while Nonjabulo Bahle Mabuza joined Seme Secondary School. Flash forward to 2015, nine years into their illegal employment, information came to light confirming the two so-called teachers in and around the Gert Sibande District were indeed not who they claimed to be.
When looking at how the dodgy-duo got caught; to address the issue of fraudulent documentation, the Department of Education issued a circular calling upon all educators to submit their qualifications for authentication—an applauded initiative. It was during this process, the pair failed to comply and instead opted to resign, thereby stirring suspicion.
With the fake educators now under the spotlight, their initial applications being scrutinised, and their qualifications deemed questionable—the Hawks were tasked to conduct further investigations which ultimately proved that the pair’s credentials were indeed fake.
Captain Sekgotodi points out, “Investigations revealed that Khuzwayo submitted a fraudulent matric certificate, with a serial number belonging to a deceased person. Mabuza submitted a fraudulent Bachelor of Education Degree, purportedly issued by the University of Pretoria.”
While the court has sentenced each of them to ten years imprisonment, their sentences are, however, wholly suspended for five years on the condition, they are not found guilty of fraud during the period of suspension. Additionally, a confiscation order for their pension funds to the tune of R600 000 respectively, has been granted.
Share your thoughts in the comment section below and let us know if you know of any teachers or schools who are not abiding by the law.
Authors: Quinton Boucher and Calvin Swemmer
Edited: Calvin Swemmer
