- Allegations of unprofessional conduct and financial irregularities surface
- Former employee claims unfair treatment and wage dispute
Peter Luhanga
A project aimed at providing Dunoon residents with skills to secure jobs and start businesses, is facing allegations of unprofessional conduct and financial irregularities since it started opposite the Dunoon taxi rank in May.
The allegations were made by students enrolled in the Cape Venture Project which opened its doors opposite the local taxi rank in May.
Cape Venture Project Pty Ltd, registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPRO) on 31 January, 2023, runs the skills training project. The company has one listed director, a fact independently verified by Iliso LaBantu News through the CIPRO business portal.
Students, who requested anonymity due to fear of victimisation, told Iliso LaBantu about their concerns.
They alleged inconsistent training, frequent changes in lecturers, and an overemphasis on repeated inductions instead of actual instruction. One student disclosed: “Since enrolling in May, we’ve only had multiple inductions with no real lectures.”
Students questioned about the upfront payment of R335 for textbooks and a student card, and expressed scepticism over their certificates being recognition in the corporate industry.
One student stated suspicions regarding the project’s integrity, saying management requires full tuition payments upfront and is hesitant to facilitate payment plans. This comes against the backdrop of high unemployment in the township, with some students relying on child support grants to cover their tuition fees.
The student said they paid R300 for textbooks but instead received a photocopied booklet stapled together.
The source said students have been paying R40 every Friday, which management had stated was for their portfolio of evidence. However, management was accused of using the money to buy meat and cook pap for the entire team involved in the skills project.
“They say every Friday is a social day and not intended for tutoring. When we enquire about the legitimacy of the skills training, they become irritated and start praying over us, saying things like ‘the devil is using you’.”
The student believed managers had cast a spell on them.
Students claimed the resignation of an employee was linked to accusations of stealing student registration funds.
The employee had taken to social networking platforms to refute the accusations and stated that the project owed her a month’s wages of R7,000.
Iliso Labantu approached the former employee of the project, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation. She claimed the company owed her R7000 in wages for one month.
She claimed she was stunned when the project manager accused her of first stealing R4,000 which rose to R6, 500. She denied the allegation saying she handed the project manager all registration fees she had collected.
She said that after handing over registration fees the project manager took the team to Langa township for a team-building meeting. However, they were taken to a popular braai meat eatery where he spent R1,000 on beef, pork, chicken wings, and sausages. Afterward, he gave them minibus taxi fare and told them to return home.
When she had asked about her employment contract she was told to wait until she “resigned”.
At the end of May she sent the manager her bank account for payment of her wages, but once he realised why this was done, he did not take her calls.
The project manager, Lindile Ndlazilwana, confirmed that he operated a skills training centre in Dunoon and in Atlantis, Strand, Mitchells Plain.
Ndlazilwana, in turn, accused the former employee of stealing money.
“We have evidence. She stole money during the May elections (sic). A client went to pay at her house. She was never paid her wages – she stole money and this is still under investigation.”
He said the project trained students in business management, catering, home-based care, bricklaying, electrical engineering, plumbing, and driving. Each subject ran for three months. Upon completion of their courses students received a certificate accredited by the Agriculture Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSeta).
Regarding the R335 textbook and student card charges, he stated that he operated a project run by a private company and had the right to charge whatever he wanted.
“It’s our choice. We charge for student cards and textbooks,” he said.
He says 78 students were enrolled at the Dunoon centre.
“A lot of people … many people want to be part of the project. We (Cape Venture Project Pty Ltd) are not a college. We teach them skills. At the end of the training, we issue a certificate accredited by AgriSeta.
“We’ve produced many graduates in many communities. We have run the project in Atlantis. People graduated and some are operating their own businesses.
“When it comes to black communities it’s about jealousy. They say you must appoint a white person in order for them to be comfortable. Our only challenge is jealousy and witchcraft, especially being a black person.
“Most races and other foreign nationals welcome the project, it’s only Xhosa people and their leaders who have a problem, hence they asked we get a white man to be in charge,” he said.