Teachers left high and dry
Visa scam strands young South Africans in China
THE Department of International Relations and Co-operation is working with Chinese authorities to help dozens of young South Africans stranded in China due to a visa scam.
In a statement, Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said she was aware of South African citizens who were stranded in China as a result of the scam.
She instructed the department to work with the Chinese authorities to have their passports released so they could return as soon as possible.
According to the South African embassy in Beijing, 51 young South Africans were enticed by an agent to travel to China on study visas while they planned to work as English teachers.
The promise was that they would get their work visas upon arrival in the country, but this never materialised.
While in China on study visas, they started working, which was in contravention of China’s immigration laws.
“Our embassy in Beijing is liaising with the Chinese authorities in addressing this matter. We are also in touch with the Chinese ambassador to South Africa to have their passports released.
“The Chinese ambassador has made an undertaking that he will expedite the matter,” said Sisulu.
“We are very much aware that the Chinese authorities will follow their own legal process when such a violation occurs and deal with the matter accordingly,” the minister added.
Cautious
“We appeal to all South Africans to be cautious of these scams and to check with the relevant authorities before travelling to other countries.
“The department will continue to provide consular assistance to those South Africans in distress and also keep the affected families informed of the latest developments,” said Sisulu.
She also plans to engage the police and home affairs ministers about the scams so that the individuals involved are taken to task.
It was a priority of the min- ister that all 51 South Africans currently stranded in China return home as soon as possible, the department added.
Meanwhile, fundraising platform BackaBuddy said more than R26 000 has been raised for the stranded South Africans.
Enticed by the opportunity to teach English in China, the group, who are all under 25, trusted Owen Wang, an agent claiming to represent Sanda Youth International, said the organisation.
Once in China, Wang requested everyone’s passports to enable him to finalise their work permits, said BackaBuddy.
“Unfortunately, Wang never returned with their passports, leaving the youngsters stranded with incomplete documents, unable to work and without a means to return home to South Africa.”
Liza Bold, whose 21-year-old daughter Lee-Ann is among the detainees, said: “The schools never enquired about their working visas and never received them from Owen Wang.
“Instead our children were paid half their agreed salaries and told to hide from the police when they were investigated.”
Lorraine Theron is the mother of one of the teachers and said she was worried sick about the wellbeing of her 19-year-old daughter, Timoné.
“It all happened so fast. She was called to an interview in Krugersdorp and then Roodepoort. She had to submit a video showing how she would teach a class and when she was ac- cepted she was immediately provided with a one-way ticket to China.
“I didn’t even have the chance to throw her a going away party,” said Theron.
If you would like to support the crowdfunding campaign please do so here: https://www. backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/50-kids-in-china – African News Agency/(ANA)