Durban -
The University of KwaZulu-Natal was getting tough on people offering courses in its name, by asking the Pietermaritzburg High Court to send one such person to Westville Prison for three months.
Acting Judge Piet Bezuidenhout on Thursday gave Dumisani Maduna an opportunity to reply to allegations made by the university on or before next Friday, before he would make a ruling.
Maduna could use the time to get an attorney.
The university also wanted an interdict to stop Maduna, alternatively, the Imbali Pyscho-Social Community Youth Resource Centre, from representing to the residents of Imbali, Pietermaritzburg, and the public, that the courses it offered were authorised, endorsed or supported by the university, and that enrolment would result in the award of a university qualification.
Associate professor, Jane Julia Meyerowitz, said in court papers that in March, the court had granted the same interdict, which Maduna had continued to go against.
As he was in contempt of court for not abiding by it, he should go to jail.
Meyerowitz said the university became aware of Maduna’s disregard for the court order when a woman, Purity Mpilo, was approached in October by a woman saying she could study at the university to become a teacher earning R13 000 a month, despite not having a matric certificate.
Mpilo told a recruitment officer, Nompilo Ndlovu, who called Maduna to clarify what had been said. He said it was a teacher’s training course and she must pay R250 at Checkers and SMS him her details.
She would then have to pass a selection test to study at the university.
Meyerowitz added that flyers were also being distributed, promising people an opportunity to study at the university.
She said the university went to great lengths to protect its good name and its position had been recognised by the court.
Meyerowitz said that jail in this case was necessary and unavoidable. It would serve as punishment and prevent Maduna from doing the same thing again.
The Mercury