Twee valse laer- en hoërskole, Hillcrest International School en Academy of Sciences wat op dieselfde perseel langs Harleystraat, Ferndale in Randburg gehuisves is, is Maandag deur ’n multidissiplinêre span onder leiding van die Valke se Ernstige Georganiseerde Misdaadondersoekspan gesluit.
Die span wat Randburg-polisie, die departement van onderwys en departement van binnelandse sake ingesluit het, het by die perseel ingestorm ná ’n wenk wat onlangs ontvang is oor kolleges wat sonder die nodige registrasie van die departement van onderwys funksioneer.
Petros Lyson (54), die direkteur van die kolleges, en sy seuns, Rawlings (30) en Rodney (25), Christian Egbonim (38), Emmanuel Ngwenya (24), Evermore Zenda (30), Juliet Maphiri (32) , Faith Mwitha (22), Tinonmvonga Maranguza (61) en Tadiwanashe Zvichauya (18), wat almal buitelandse burgers is, het na bewering as die bestuur van die fasiliteite gespeel.
Byna 200 betalende studente is glo slagoffers van die bedrog wat sedert 2019 deur die groep voortgesit is.
Petros Lyson is ook bykomend aangekla vir ’n voorval wat op 1 Augustus 2022 by OR Tambo Internasionale Lughawe plaasgevind het. Hy word daarvan aangekla dat hy bedrieglike papierwerk gefasiliteer het om vier minderjariges tussen 11 en 15 jaar oud na Dublin, Ierland te vervoer.
In die genoemde saak is die minderjariges gered en drie arrestasies van Hilda Tenenga, alias Hilda Dlamini, Andrew Kumbirai Masimo en Sithembiso Mlauzi is gemaak. Dié saak is reeds op die hofrol met die geskeduleerde aanhoudingsdatum van 13 April 2023, met Petros wat na verwagting by sy medebeskuldigdes by die Kemptonpark-hof sal aansluit.
Die groep het Woensdag 9 Maart 2023 in die Randburg-landdroshof verskyn op aanklag van bedrog. Hulle word ook aangekla vir versuim om die instellings te registreer wat ’n oortreding van die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet is.
Aanklagte van die oortreding van die Immigrasiewet word ook ondersoek hangende verifikasie van die status van die gearresteerde persone in die land. Die hof het hulle in aanhouding gehou hangende hul borgtogaansoek wat vir 13 Maart en 16 Maart 2023 geskeduleer is.
Die Valke meen dit kan ’n punt van ’n ysberg wees aangesien dit blykbaar wydverspreid in die land voorkom.
Hawks shuts down two bogus private schools eight operators arrested
Two bogus primary and high schools, Hillcrest International School and Academy of Sciences accommodated in the same premises along Harley Street, Ferndale in Randburg were shut down on Monday morning by a multidisciplinary team led by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation.
The team that included Randburg police, Department of Education and Department of Home Affairs swooped at the premises following a tipoff that was received recently about the said colleges operating without the requisite registration from the Department of Education.
Petros Lyson (54) the Director of the colleges, sons, Rawlings (30), Rodney (25), Christian Egbonim (38), Emmanuel Ngwenya (24), Evermore Zenda (30/f), Juliet Maphiri (32/f), Faith Mwitha (22/f) and Tinonmvonga Maranguza (61) and Tadiwanashe Zvichauya (18/f), who are all foreign nationals are said to have been instrumental in running the facilities. Almost a two hundred paying students are reportedly victims of the fraud perpetuated by the group since 2019.
Petros Lyson has also been additionally charged for an incident that occurred at OR-Tambo International airport on 01 August 2022. He is accused of facilitating fraudulent paperwork to traffic four minors aged between 11 and 15 to Dublin, Ireland. In the said case the minors were rescued and three arrests of Hilda Tenenga, alias Hilda Dlamini, Andrew Kumbirai Masimo and Sithembiso Mlauzi were made. That case is already on the court roll with the remand scheduled date of 13 April 2023, with Petros expected to join his co-accused at the Kemptonpark court.
The group appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 09 March 2023, on charges of fraud. They are also charged for failure to register the institutions which is a contravention of South African Schools Act. Charges of contravention of the Immigration Act are also being explored pending verification of the status of the arrested persons in the country. The court has remanded them in custody pending their bail application scheduled for Monday, 13 and 16 March 2023.
The Hawks believe this could be a tip of an iceberg as it appears to be widespread in the country. We urge the public to verify institutions credentials with the Gauteng Department of Education’ Mrs Selaelo Kgoale 082 677 4436. Any affected victims are urged to call Warrant Officer Class Ranthakgoa and Captain Mabasa the investigators in this case on 0825684598 and 0714812468 respectively.
The Gauteng Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Major General Ebrahim Kadwa has lauded the tireless collaborative efforts by the investigators for a job well-done. We appreciate the multipronged approach by all involved. We cannot sit and watch whilst the future of our youth is being exploited by unscrupulous criminals. The Hawks will present a watertight case to ensure that similar elements refrain from this appalling acts of dishonesty at the detriment of our education system.