Transport department expels students

The Department of Transport  in Limpopo has expelled three students who were training at the department's college at Manenu in Mutale.

According to the spokesperson, Mr Jimmy Mathole, the students were expelled on Monday, 7 July, “after they failed to comply with one of the most important requirements that are needed to be admitted to the college.”

He confirmed that the internal affairs division had arrested a student for fraud. “The student was arrested and expelled from the college after he allegedly presented a falsified Grade 12 certificate. Investigators from the department's internal affairs division arrested him and a case of fraud was opened at Mutale police station," said Mathole.

Mathole added that two other students were expelled for not having matric certificates. “The two were disqualified because they submitted a General Education and Training certificate, which is not equivalent to matric and did not reach the specific scores which are similar to Grade 12. As such, they did not qualify to be part of the programme and should also not have been shortlisted in the first place.

"The department appointed 250 learner traffic officials who are currently training at Manenu College. All the appointed learner traffic officers had to comply with requirements as set out in the advertisement.” He emphasised their medical fitness, possession of a driver's licence, Grade 12 certificate and no criminal record. All the shortlisted applications were called for interviews and later appointed as per the recommendations of the panel.

He also stated that successful applicants were further advised that their appointments were subject to screening  and verification of their personal and academic qualifications.

"It should be noted the process of verification of the students academic information took place while they were busy with their training and it was later discovered the three students were not supposed to be part of the programme.

Mutale police spokesperson WO Tshilidzi Nyambeni confirmed that a case was opened at the station and a suspect, Mpho Khangale, had already appeared in court.

Date:25 July 2014

By: Ndivhuwo Musetha

Read: 1518