Slowly but surely, more South Africans are getting into holiday mode – companies are closing for the year, and the kiddies are on school holidays. The only people, however, who won’t be having a good holiday are the matriculants who are awaiting the results of 12 years of hard work.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has warned both parents and matriculants alike to beware of a new scam purposing to offer buyers “genuine” matric certificates for just R1 500.
“It is important that the Department alert members of the public to this as it threatens the integrity of the NSC Examination process as well as bringing into question the security and authenticity of the matric certificate,” said Head of Assessments Dr Rufus Poliah in a statement.
According to Poliah, the department wishes to reiterate the following:
– The DBE is well aware of members of the public fraudulently producing and offering to sell fake matric certificates
– Only certificates issued by Umalusi are legitimate
– Certificates are not for sale. Reissued certificates, however, come at a small fee
– Matric certificates carry their own security features
– Members of the public who are found to be partaking in the selling of fraudulent matric certificates will face the wrath of the law
Recently, South Africa enacted the National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act, which makes it a criminal offence for individuals to falsify their qualifications.
This falsified information is punishable by a prison sentence not exceeding five years, or a steep fine.
Picture: Twitter