Con artist targets poor schools

Principals promised mobile classrooms for a fee

The Eastern Cape Department of Education is investigating an alleged plot by an unidentified con artist aimed at scamming disadvantaged schools in the Port Elizabeth district.

According to provincial education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima, two Port Elizabeth schools were promised mobile classrooms by a man purporting to be a national department official, in exchange for R29 000.

While no schools had paid out any money as yet, the department was urging principals to be vigilant and report future phone calls of this nature to its district office immediately.

Mtima said the department was aware of Young Park Primary and Walmer Primary schools having been approached.

“Principals are urged to be aware of a bogus person phoning schools with promises of delivering mobile classrooms,” he said.

“The scam leader is a certain Mr Metembo who purports to be a director at the national office.