Pretoria - Students from IT Training Corporation School in Centurion have been left scrambling for their money and books after it closed down without warning.
Jason Belt said he was shocked when within weeks of paying for the online course, the school shut down and was reportedly facing liquidation.
Belt said he paid R11 422 of the required R12 000 on June 22 and received a receipt shortly afterwards.
He completed the first module, but got a shock of his life when he tried to log on to the system to start the second module when he discovered the website had closed.
He phoned the school and was met with an automated phone message staying it had closed down.
“I only realised on July 8 that the school’s website was no longer live. There was no notice that they were experiencing financial problems or facing closure,” he said.
“I eventually got hold of other students who had already formed a Facebook group called ITTC Liquidation. I discovered that nothing was previously mentioned about the school going into liquidation. We’re worried that they are trying to run off with our money.”
Leandi Mollentze said she registered for four courses and paid more than R72 755 a year ago for five courses.
Mollentze said they had since found out that the school had been scammed to the tune of R1.6 million, after which the owner committed suicide. Ownership was transferred to the owner’s sister, who assured them the school would continue as normal.
“But the school just shut its doors and we cannot find any information regarding its liquidation. We just want our money back.
“We have tried contacting a relative of the owner to at least try to get books so we can study and try to write exams elsewhere, but he backed out at the last minute.”
Mollentze, who created the Facebook group, said they had 45 members and were trying their best to gather as much information as possible.
Their aim was to lodge a complaint with the relevant authority.
“They need to give the students their money as well as study material,” said Mollentze.
Lynette Willatt, director of the school, confirmed they had been scammed and the owner committed suicide. Wyatt claimed they initially had problems accessing the bank account to reimburse the students. However, that had been resolved and they were refunding students.
“We got a liquidator who is dealing with the entire process.
“We know about the Facebook group, but we have paid some of the students back. If there are any students who paid the school recently, we have not touched that money and they should get in contact with us so we can put them in touch with the liquidator,” she said.
Wyatt, however, refused to give the details of the liquidator and said the information was private. “I am not going to give that information to the media. I am also in the media and I know how this works,” said Wyatt.
But Mollentze said they also been told “stories” about a liquidator, but not given details. “They always say the company is being liquidated, but come up with excuses when we ask for more details,” she said.
“On Friday, I sent her a text message from a different number, and she responded to me saying there was no money in the school’s account.”
The landlord at the school’s Saxby Avenue base said rental had not been paid for the past two months. The school then vacated the property.
The owners emptied their offices overnight and had not come forward with details of the liquidator when asked about the outstanding rentals, the landlord added.
Pretoria News