THE FUTURE looks bleak for Grade 12 pupils whose results were withheld after they allegedly cheated in the examinations since various universities have refused to enrol them.

The frustrated pupils said the Mpumalanga department of education had promised to finalise investigations by February this year but this had not happened.

One of the pupils, Nonsikelelo Likhuleni, said the bursary she had secured to enroll for a commerce degree at the University of Cape Town had been withdrawn because she had not received her agricultural science results.

"My bursary has been withdrawn because my statement was incomplete. After realising this I went to the University of the Western Cape, where my parents were planning to pay for my studies.

"When the university officials saw the incomplete statement of results they told me to come back with a complete statement.

"Another thing that makes me angry is the fact that my statement ihas 'suspected irregularity' written at the bottom," she said.

Likhuleni, who was a pupil at the Khumbula High School in Ngodini near Nelspruit, claimed she had contacted the department of education but they had not helped her.

Another pupil from the same school, Lucas Makhubela, 19, said his bursary had also been withdrawn.

"I wanted to study teaching at Wits University but couldn't because my results are incomplete," Makhubela said.

Makhubela's cricket coach, Myles Conte, said the problem was affecting Makhubela's performance.

The two pupils said the results of the hearing conducted into the alleged irregularities was not released.

National examination and assessment Centre chief director Nkosinathi Sishi said all the affected pupils should contact their regional offices to have their problems resolved.

"These two pupils and others who have the same problem should contact our office in Nelspruit and ask for Bheki Ngubane."

"I wanted to study teaching at Wits University but I couldn't because my results are incomplete"