By Bongiwe Zwane-Maseko
A 54-year-old woman who was sought for five years for allegedly running bogus nursing colleges was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday after landing from Nigeria.
“The suspect managed to evade arrest and had been on the run since 2017 after she fled to Nigeria,” Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said.
“The suspect allegedly ran bogus nursing colleges and fraudulently registered unsuspecting students under the pretext that they [would] acquire diplomas in nursing. The victims were also assured of employment across the province upon completion of their studies.”
South African media house, News24 reports that cases were opened in Polokwane, Morebeng, Thohoyandou, Waterval in Limpopo, and parts of Gauteng, Mojapelo said.
“The breakthrough happened on Saturday, when detectives from Makhado received information about the wanted suspect returning to South Africa from Nigeria and that she would be arriving at OR Tambo
International Airport at midday. The members pounced on her soon after she arrived at the airport.”
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Her arrest comes after two private schools in Johannesburg were shut down last week and several staff members were arrested. The police swooped in on Hillcrest International School and Academy of Sciences, allegedly for operating without education department registration.
Petros Lyson, 54, the director of Hillcrest, was arrested along with his sons, Rawlings, 30, and Rodney, 25. His sons taught at the primary school, according to the Hawks.
Staff members Emmanuel Ngwenya, Evermore Zenda, Christian Egbonim, Juliet Maphiri, and Faith Mwitha, were also arrested.
Tinonmvonga Maranguza, 61, who ran the Academy of Sciences – a high school – was arrested along with 18-year-old Tadiwanashe Zvichauya.
