Some parents of learners attending the Ex-Special School Skills Centre for People Living with Disabilities in Morago Trust, Thaba Nchu, are unhappy about the school and suspect that it may not be registered with the Free State Department of Education, as alleged to them.
One parent stated that they have allegedly been told the school is registered with the Free State Department of Education and that students will receive matric certificates upon completion. The school has been promoted as a regular school, allegedly to parents.
The centre is housed at an old school in Morago Trust in Thaba Nchu and is meant to cater for people living with disabilities, but it’s currently allegedly housing learners who are mentally challenged. On its promotional poster, the school admits students aged 10-40 years and offers Hostel accommodation.
Free State World can exclusively reveal that the centre is not registered with the Free State Department of Education or the National Education Department, as it’s alleged to the parents. However, the centre is registered with the Department of Social Development as a Non-Profit Organisation and is available on their database.
This was also confirmed by the centre principal, Tumelo Ralejwana, who sent Free State World, an NPO certificate, which proves that the school is registered as a Non profit organization and not as a school and the centre claims that students will be given Matric certificates are false, as only the Department of Education can do that not Social Development.
Ex-Special School Skills Centre was registered as an NPO on 15 December 2021. A quick search on the Social Development NPO database confirms this. However, the Centre allegedly started operating from January 2025.
According to a concerned parent, they pay R800 monthly, and there is no electricity, while cooking and water heating are done outside using firewood. During the day, classes are used, and at night, they are used as rooms for students to sleep, and they allegedly sleep on thin mattresses and sponges paid for by parents.
Parents allegedly pay fees directly into the Principal’s private account and not into the school’s business bank account.
Free State World has proof of payment showing that parents pay directly into Tumelo Ralejwana’s Capitec account.
The parent added and alleges that they were told that the school is registered with the Department of Education and that students will be given Matric Certificates.
The Principal answering Free State World said the students will be given Matric Certificates, but the school is not registered with the Department of Education, as proven by the NPO certificate, as the school is registered as a Skills Centre with Social Development, not a proper school, proving that Ralejwana lied about Matric Certificates.
The concerned parent is also worried about the staff and principals’ qualifications and worried that Tumelo Ralejwana might be running a bogus school, as he allegedly promotes the centre as a proper school to parents who pay R800 monthly.
According to a staff picture shared with Free State World by Ralejwana, the centre has four staff members, including Ralejwana, but questions have been raised on whether they are qualified to work with mentally challenged students or those living with disabilities.
Ralejwana failed to provide Free State World with proof of the qualifications of his staff and himself when Free State World requested them.
There is also a concern about the quality of skills and training that the centre’s students are receiving. In the promotional poster that even circulated on Facebook groups, the centre says it will offer computer skills as one of the technical skills offered, but the centre does not have electricity.
However, it’s alleged that gardening is the major skill the students are being offered. Free State World has photos of students doing gardening. It’s alleged that the majority of services advertised on the centre’s promotional poster are not offered but might have been mentioned to attract students to the school.
“There is a mammoth concern regarding this school, and I’m wondering if it’s registered with the Department of Education. The payment is made directly to the school’s Principal’s Capitec personal account. I wonder if the students have a portfolio of evidence or if they write tests, as parents have been told that the students will be given matric certificates.” Said a concerned parent.
Free State World contacted the School Principal, Tumelo Ralejwana, for a comment and to offer him a right of reply. Free State World sent several questions for him to answer.
Answering the school’s registration, Ralejwana said the centre is registered but with Social Development and sent Free State World an NPO registration certificate, which proves that the centre is registered as a “Non-Profit Organisation” and he failed to provide any proof that the centre is also registered with the Department of Education following claims of the centre’s ability to issue matric certificates.
Ralejwana, in his reply, confirmed that they are “under social development for now.”
Regarding his and staff’s qualifications, Ralejwana said they are all qualified, but failed to supply evidence of his qualifications and those of his staff, and promised to send it, but has not done so despite being asked twice to supply evidence.
On parents paying fees directly to his personal Capitec account instead of a business bank account or an official one for the centre, Ralejwana said the business (bank) was blocked, and he had no choice but to use his personal account for a period of time, and he was now back to using a business account.
He failed to provide the proof of the business account when asked to do so. Proving that he might allegedly continue using his personal bank account.
On the school not having electricity, Ralejwana said, “We got accommodation in a rural area, that is why we are struggling with water and electricity. The school fees make sure they don’t lack food, and we don’t even have funding yet.”
However, in his reply to our questions, Ralejwana said the department approved the centre and is willing to help him, but failed to state which department he was referring to.
Regarding the promise of students getting Matric Certificates, in his reply, Ralejwana said they will “definitely” get Matric Certificates. Despite the school not being registered with the Department of Education.
According to South African law, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) are the primary bodies authorized to issue matric certificates. If the matric exam was conducted by the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) or the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI), then they are the ones who can reissue lost certificates.
Umalusi is the council that quality assures qualifications. An NPO (Non-Profit Organization) cannot independently issue matric certificates in South Africa. Only Umalusi, the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, has the authority to issue these certificates.
The Free State Department of Education Spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, said they don’t know the school and are not aware of it, and they will send their officials for a visit.
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