SCORES of students from impoverished families around Thohoyandou have been conned by an alleged unscrupulous institution named Limpopo Emergency Training College.

Student Eunice Nengwenda said she was shocked when she was told that the college was not accredited with South African Nursing Council.

She said the college promised to offer courses in ancillary healthcare, primary emergency care, firefighting, first aid and primary responses, but only first aid was accredited.

"The school has conned us out of thousands of rands. Students have already paid between R8000 and R12000 each," Nengwenda said.

Now more than 70 students are involved in a legal battle with school owner Emanuel Mashaba.

Another student, Livhuwane Mulibane, said she spent almost R8000 to enrol for the courses, hoping that one day her life would change for the better.

"We approached the owner of the school about refunds but he instead promised to shoot all of us," she said

When approached for comment, Mashaba denied that the college was not accredited. He said he had just moved his college to Elim near Makhado.

"I would not like to comment much because the matter is in court," he said.

The students' attorney , Brian Mudzuli, confirmed that there was a legal battle between the students and the owner of the school.

"We wrote a letter on October 6 to the school's owner and demanded refunds since the school is not registered," Mudzuli said.

Provincial department of health and social development spokesman Joe Maila referred enquiries to the South African Council of Nursing, which could not be reached.