FIRST Secretary (Education) at the Zambia High Commission in South Africa Emmerentiana Bweupe has advised young people not to be desperate in rushing for training opportunities in South Africa, which could be offered in Zambia.
Narrating an incident in which eight Zambian students were involved in a road traffic accident, from which two sustained serious injuries but had to be discharged early from hospital, Mrs Bweupe urged young people not to be desperate, and to seek guidance through Ministry of Foreign Affairs on which foreign institutions were accredited with TEVETA.
Mrs Bweupe said she would be liaising with TEVETA through Foreign Affairs to ascertain the credibility of all South Africa registered training institutions to avoid similar occurrences in future.
She observed that some training, like the one in earth-moving machines, the students had come to South Africa for, is offered with the Zambia National Council for Construction (NCC) at affordable cost.
Mrs Bweupe said recently a named privately owned South African company has been involved in receiving students for training in the field of earth-moving machines, through a named Pastor Isaac Chifita.
While undergoing training at the institution, eight Zambian students were on February 20, 2014 involved in a road accident having arrived in South Africa four days earlier.
The students were being ferried to the training school in Benoni in an open Nissan van, around 06:00 hours when they got involved in the accident, six sustained minor injuries and were discharged after treatment.
However, the other two, Mathew Ngoma and his fellow trainee sustained serious injuries with the former suffering a fractured pelvis and put on traction, while the later sustained a broken femur bone.
Mrs Bweupe said the High Commission came to learn about the matter when the owner of the institution asked for assistance in caring for the victims and assisting with their transportation to Zambia.
She advised that students applying to come and study should ensure relevant procedure is followed, such ensuring that institutions are accredited with TEVETA, by checking their credibility with the Mission through Foreign Affairs, and have relevant study permits and medical insurance so that the due process of the law could be followed in terms of compensation in similar circumstances.
“Imagine, Mathew, who was on traction was discharged on March 03, 2014, and travelled to Zambia two days later on Inter Cape bus having had three seats purchased for him so that he could be in a laying position on account of his delicate physical state,” said Mrs Bweupe.
Mathew explained that the students were recruited from Zambia by a Pastor Chifita, under the company known as Magnolia properties, having deposited their R6000 each – excluding transportation cost to and from Zambia and food – into his account, which lamp sum he paid to the said training school, including boarding.
Issued by:
PATSON CHILEMBA (Mr.)
First Secretary (Press)
High Commission of the Republic of Zambia to South Africa
www.zambiapretoria.net Mobile: +27786316518, Email: pachiles822000@yahoo.com