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VICTORIOUS: Advocate Mphafolane Koma represented the suspended students. PHOTO: PEGGY NKOMO

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The students, from Rostec FET College in Pretoria, were suspended on October 3 by the department's irregularity committee after a marker noticed that they all scored "unusually high marks" in their various subjects.

A marker raised the alarm bell when all the students scored marks of between 68% and 100% inindustrial electronics in their final exams.

The department's director, Elisabeth Malindi, then wrote to Rostec management stating: "According to the evidence available, it was found that the candidates were guilty of contravening the examination rules.

"In accordance with the national policy determined by the minister, the results obtained by the candidates in the examination for the instructional offering will not be acknowledged and the candidates may not register for any national exams for a period of eleven months until November 2013."

When Mantladi Nkadimeng, the father of one of the suspended students Peter Seloga , failed to get the department to reverse its decision he took the matter to court.

Seloga is studying electrical engineering.

Nkadimeng argued that his son's suspension was irregular in that he was never given a chance to tell his side of the story, therefore violating his rights.

On November 8, Judge Natvarial Ranchod said the department's procedure to suspend the students was flawed.

He ordered the department to lift the suspension and institute disciplinary proceedings against the students if it felt there was a case.

The department was also ordered to make available the students' examination results, which it had withheld.

Rostec FET College chief executive Phillip Kakuru said he could not comment on the matter as the process was not complete.

Higher Education Department spokeswoman Vuyelwa Qinga did notrespond to voice-mail messages or questions sent through e-mail.

Mphafolane Koma, who represented the students, said: "I am happy that the students now have the chance to set the record straight.

"The department nearly destroyed their futures unnecessarily."

- alfredm@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Sun May 26 02:21:40 SAST 2013 ::

Nov 12, 2012

Pointman

Let off - on a technicality? The department must reinstate the suspension - this time using the proper precedures. Otherwise one of these cheats might end up wiring a house or aeroplane - with disastrous consequences.
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Nov 12, 2012

TLekota

Dad make a party a graduation one for your son and when he submit his cv for job application he must put the rector as a reference. Suppose he is proud he have the best dad.
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Nov 12, 2012

MommaC

??? so the college's evidence is ONLY that they got good marks ???
This makes no sense whatsoever.
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Nov 12, 2012

Credo

Momma

Sometimes one might not have the evidence, but looking at the consistency of the performance of the student during the year with an average of, let's say 40%, and to achieve a mark of 80% at the exam would certainly raise some eyebrows. Don't you think ?
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Nov 12, 2012

RisengaMbhila

Next thing the same cheats will be owning an electrical engineering company dealing with government infrastructural development and if their really cheated then they are surely a disgrace to their parents and families.
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Nov 12, 2012

stabubu

i suppose according to the department those students were to fail,it goes to show gore the department has zero confidence in the S.A's youth ability to read and pass.
lol e mare se ke bo tsenwa so ba re BANA ke di DOMKOP?
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Nov 12, 2012

ThirdEye

It not over yet.
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Nov 12, 2012

maftowncity

@Credo

Yes,bro,it does raise an eyebrow,not supporting what the students did,because thats really unacceptible...however i suspect here what came in the mind of the court is whether the school has followed the right procedure when suspending the students or not.Whether they are guilty or not,is not case,the question is the school has applied all their Disciplinary Code and Procedures or not,if NOT,their suspension will be unfair....

To lose case on technicality is a bitter pill to swallow,and not to follow your own Disciplinary Code and Procedure is unexcusable...
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Nov 12, 2012

LeparaThePresident

I know this advocate personally, he once too ZCC to court and win.
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Nov 12, 2012

MsKinkyakaKamaSutra

A marker raised the alarm bell when all the students scored marks of between 68% and 100% inindustrial electronics in their final exams.
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This is ridiculous................ so the college promotes underperformance #SMH#

Koma at least you won this one......... phela wena you ar forever in the news for wrong reasons

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