James Murphy says that he enrolled with Damelin in 2013 to do Maths and Science which he needed to start an apprenticeship at Barloworld. When he paid the money, receipt papers showed that Damelin Middelburg had changed to Qualitas.

After things went lopsided, and Mr Murphy missed several classes due to tutors not being available, the Murphy family received a message saying that Qualitas Middelburg was closing down.

Mr Murphy’s father, Robert, said that they paid a total of R4 500 to Shields. He provided the Middelburg Observer with the receipt as well as a detailed breakdown of when and what classes his son attended as well as incidents that occurred during the time he was supposedly enrolled with Damelin.

The Middelburg Observer knows from direct correspondence with Qualitas in 2013 that Shields did apply but never succeeded in securing a Qualitas franchise. He was never permitted to trade under the Qualitas name.

Mr Murphy said that he opened a criminal charge after it became evident that something was amiss. He claims that Shields convinced him to withdraw the charge by promising to pay back the money he owed him.

“I asked what I should tell the police, in regards to why I am suddenly withdrawing the charge, he said that I should state that it is against my religion to open a criminal case against someone. So I wrote ‘religious reasons’ on the form when I went to withdraw the matter. I was convinced that I was going to get my money back”.

But things went further south after the matter was withdrawn. Mr Murphy says that after numerous empty promises, Shields started ignoring his calls and messages and later blocked his number.

“With this whole thing, with what Shields did to my son, my son never got his N1 or his N2 and he is suffering to find work or even for someone to give him an appyship”.

“What Shields did to my son has made him lose his education and so much more,” said Mr Murphy senior.

Mr Murphy junior now contemplates reopening his case.

• Another complainant, only known as Immanuel, contacted the Middelburg Observer and claimed that he completed an Advanced Computer Literacy course with Damelin. He has never received any certificate and says that empty promises and the hope that he might in fact one day receive the qualification he studied for, stopped him from opening a criminal case.

“I just want my certificate, that is all,” the man said.

• Shields could not be reached for comment.