Matric results unveil scammers

Earlier this week, a brazen Facebook user, Raswi Jane Furse, posted on the Middelburg MP Advertising group claiming he can help people who want to purchase a matric certificate, security certificate, Nated N1–N6 certificate, diplomas, or trade test certificates.

A forged matric certificate is sold for R1 500, a security certificate costs R2 500, and a trade test certificate will set you back R3 000.

On Wednesday, the Middelburg Observer contacted the Facebook user, who identified himself as Ronny Makula.

He told the Observer journalist it takes one day to ‘make’ the matric certificate and all a prospective client needs to do is send him a WhatsApp message with their ID number, school subjects, the marks they would like on the certificate, the year they wrote their examinations, and their matric examination number.

He said the payment must be made via PEP’s PAXI courier service, and when the certificate is ready for collection, it will be sent via PAXI.

He said the prospective client will receive an SMS from the ‘department of education’, which he said proves the certification is ‘registered’ with the department and is ‘authentic’.

The Mpumalanga Department of Education spokesperson, Jasper Zwane, said Umalusi is the only body legally authorised to issue qualifications in the country.

He said the only way to receive a certificate is if a person writes an exam with the Department of Education, then a certificate is issued by Umalusi, which is a free process.
He vehemently said anyone claiming to sell qualifications should be reported to the police for fraud.

It is a criminal act to purchase a matric certificate. If you are found with a fake certificate, you could face five years in jail, a hefty fine, or both a fine and imprisonment.

Those who want to rewrite or amend their matric certificates can visit the Department of Education for more information.