‘My dream is in tatters’

MTHOBISI Ntetha’s dream of becoming an electrical engineer lies in tatters as he waits for the Department of Basic Education to release his matric results of four year ago.

Ntetha, 22, was part of the 139 Mashiyamahle High School matrics whose results were withheld after they were implicated in a cheating scandal that rocked the school in 2014.

Infuriated by this decision, the community of Ndwedwe, north of Durban, closed the school this week, demanding that the department release the results. Ntetha was adamant he did not cheat.

“It is too depressing to note that two of my friends have died waiting for their results. My dream was to work for a big company, but now that remains a pipe dream.”

He was hopeful the matter would be resolved speedily.

Of the 139 results withheld, 26 were released last year. The community is demanding the release of the outstanding 113.

Ntetha said his former classmates are drowning in alcohol because of the stress which he claimed was caused by the delay in the release of their matric results.

The principal, Mthembeni Ntanzi, said he was concerned about the situation which has veered out of control.

“It is sad because they are toying with young people’s futures. When we found out we had been implicated in cheating, we were shocked, but we agreed to co-operate with the investigation because we knew we had nothing to hide.”

Ndabisekhaya Ndwandwe, chairperson of the school governing body, accused the department of failing to provide an explanation as to why the results were withheld.

Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga accused both the parents and the head of the school of not co-operating.