Following an article on bogus colleges published in this paper last week, some colleges did the right thing and proved that they are registered.

Professional Technical College, operating at the Thohoyandou Show Grounds, Nicoflora Computers and PC Engineering, operating at the Bindulavhathu Complex in Thohoyandou CBD, and Mass Computer Training at Sabina Plaza in Thohoyandou CBD have come forward and produced their registration papers.

Directors of the colleges expressed dissatisfaction at the way some directors handled the whole issue, saying they were worried that even after showing the police their registration documents, the SAPS continued to shame them. They said the shaming of their schools would impact negatively on their credibility and it would take time to repair the damage. “The damage has been caused and we have proof that we are properly registered. We would like to restore the confidence of our students. There is no need to fear, our qualifications are genuine,” said Mr Frederick Silima.

He said the article had affected and impacted negatively on his school, but he tried to explain to the students and also showed them registration letters. He called on parents who were still having doubts that they should feel free to come to the school and they would be warmly welcomed.

Mr Collen Nthangeni, director of Mass Computers, said his students should not panic as they are properly registered. He showed Mirror his registration papers and registration numbers and courses that they are allowed to teach. “This is to prove that we are not an illegal institution. We have been in existence for many years and we are also training students who have been sent by government. They could not just send them here without first checking whether we are registered or not,” he said.

He said they would continue serving the community and also to empower people with skills that would help them later on in life. “We are here to serve our communities as we have done for many years and we will continue to do so. Our conscience is clear and we have nothing to fear. Students should not panic,” he said.

Ms Mashudu Nematenda-Thomoli of Nicoflora Computers and PC Engineering said the police had visited her school and she had shown them her registration papers. “I am really shocked by what happened. My students are very worried and I had to explain time and again that our school is registered in order to gain the confidence of the students. This is killing our honest businesses and it is very difficult to gain the confidence of the community. I am just glad that our students have understood us,” she said.

Nematenda -Thomoli said it was greed that was making people offer courses that they were not registered for. “We are only offering the courses that we are registered for, but there are other colleges who just decided to be FET, because they found them lucrative and are now killing our businesses,” she said.

She added that she believed that there were other owners of colleges who were jealous of their successes and were all out to destroy the good names of their businesses.

She showed Mirror her registration papers and said they would continue serving the community.