At least five lecturers and eight students caught with question papers for subjects that students were sitting for an examination at a Further Education and Training college in Mpumalanga yesterday have been arrested by the police.
Acting on a tip-off, the South African Police Services swopped at the College where candidates were said to be writing examinations in back rooms, and found two students writing the examination for themselves as well as for other candidates that were not even at the venue.
The students led the police to other venues where the SAPS teams found the same thing happening, and proceeded to confiscate all writing material found at the venues. Initial investigations indicated that the students got the question papers from some members of the college staff.
A further search of vehicles belonging to the College staff allegedly involved in the leak led to a further confiscation of question papers, blank and already answered answer books on the seats, bags and envelopes inside the cars and in the boots.
Four of the eight students arrested have since agreed to turn state witnesses.
“Our collaboration with the law enforcement agencies will lead to even more arrests where such incidents are found to be happening. It is totally unacceptable that staff would also be involved in such a cruel scam which compromises the future of poor children, their employment prospects as well as our economy,” Minister Nzimande said.
Subjects that were written yesterday include the following:
• Industrial Organisation and Planning N3
• Building and Structural Construction N4
• Building Drawing N3
• Power Machine N6
• Engineering Science N4
• Engineering Science N2
• Building and Structural Construction N6
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) will assign a team of selected markers to scruitinise the college’s examination scripts to determine the extent of the leakage. A notice has also been sent to all marking centres to be extra vigilant of trends in answers given by candidates in all the subjects written for the examinations that were written yesterday.
For additional information and requests for interviews, please contact:
Vuyelwa Qinga
Cell: 076 883 4144
E-mail: Qinga.V@dhet.gov.za
