Hawks close ‘bogus’ schools in Randburg

The Hawks have confirmed they have shut down two schools in Randburg, with the school’s ‘director’ being charged with fraud for the running of the schools, as well as a separate child-trafficking case.

Captain Lloyd Ramovha said Hillcrest International School and Academy of Sciences, accommodated in the same premises along Harley Street, Ferndale, were closed by a multidisciplinary team led by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation.

“The team that included Randburg police, the Department of Education and the Department of Home Affairs swooped at the premises following a tipoff that was received recently about the colleges operating without the requisite registration from the Department of Education,” Ramovha said.

He said the director of the colleges along with his sons and some others were instrumental in running of the facilities.

“Almost 200 paying students are reportedly victims of the fraud perpetuated by the group since 2019. [The director] has also been charged for an incident that occurred at OR-Tambo International airport on August 1, 2022. He is accused of facilitating fraudulent paperwork to traffic four minors aged between 11 and 15 to Dublin, Ireland.”

In this case, the minors were rescued and three more people were arrested. The case will be heard at Kempton Mark Magistrate’s Court from April 13.

The group appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on March 9, 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.”

The captain said the Hawks believe fraud of this nature could be rife in South Africa, and residents are encouraged to verify the credentials of institutions with the Gauteng Gauteng Department of Education’s Selaelo Kgoale on 082 677 4436.

“Any affected victims are urged to call Warrant Officer Class Ranthakgoa and Captain Mabasa, the investigators in this case, on 082 568 4598 and 071 481 2468, respectively.”

The Gauteng Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa lauded efforts by the investigators.

Questions were sent to the schools regarding their registration with the department of education, and whether they confirm or deny the fraud the Hawks is accusing them of, on March 17.

Questions were also sent to Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona, confirming the incident and the department’s involvement in the investigation that led to the arrests, if similar cases like this are apparent across Gauteng, as the Hawks believe, or they are rare, and what can be done for the students who have been affected by this alleged fraud.

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