Two busy schools in Randburg have been shut down by the Hawks. Image: Pixabay.
Hawks close two bogus colleges in Randburg
Two busy schools in Randburg have been shut down by the Hawks.
Two busy schools in Randburg have been shut down by the Hawks. Image: Pixabay.
Two bogus schools in Randburg were shut down by a police multidisciplinary team led by the Hawks‘ Serious Organised crime investigation unit.
THE BOGUS COLLEGES HAVE OPERATED SINCE 2019
The Hillcrest International School and Academy of Sciences, operating on the same premises along Harley Street, Ferndale in Randburg, were shut down on Monday morning, 6 March 2023.
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The Gauteng Department of Education, Home Affairs, and the Hawks swooped on the bogus schools following a tipoff that it was not registered.
HAWKS SHUT DOWN BOGUS SCHOOLS
Petros Lyson (54), the director of the colleges, his sons, Rawlings,30, Rodney, 25, Christian Egbonim, 38, Emmanuel Ngwenya, 24, Evermore Zenda, 30, Juliet Maphiri, 32, Faith Mwitha, 22 and Tinonmvonga Maranguza, 61, and Tadiwanashe Zvichauya, 18, who are all foreign nationals are said to have been instrumental in running the bogus schools.
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The Hawks says before these fake schools were shut down, almost 200 paying students have fallen victim to these fraudsters since 2019.
Petros Lyson was also charged for an incident at OR-Tambo International Airport on 1 August 2022. He is accused of facilitating fraudulent paperwork to traffic four minors aged between 11 and 15 to Dublin, Ireland.
PARENTS SHOULD VERIFY SCHOOLS CREDENTIALS
The minors were rescued, and three suspects were arrested. They will appear in court on 13 April 2023. Lyson will join his co-accused at the Kemptonpark Court.
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The group appeared on fraud charges in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 09 March 2023. They remain in custody pending their bail application scheduled for Monday, 13 March 2023.
THE HAWKS ALSO CHARGED THE SCHOOL’S DIRECTOR WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING
To verify if your child’s school is bogus or legal, call Selaelo Kgoale at 082 677 4436 at the GED.
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The bogus school was shut down with immediate effect. Victims are urged to call Warrant Officer Class Ranthakgoa and Captain Mabasa, 0825684598 and 0714812468, respectively.
The Gauteng Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, has lauded the tireless collaborative efforts of the investigators.
