POLITICS

Students in 3 year wait for matric certificates - AfriForum Youth

Charl Oberholzer says majority of those affected wrote supplementary exams

AfriForum Youth to bring class action suit against Department of Basic Education

Students called on to join action

AfriForum Youth are preparing to bring a class action suit against the Department of Basic Education and to represent concerned students who, even after three years, are still waiting for their matric certificates. This comes after an Afrikaans daily newspaper reported that Amy Beukes, a third-year student in town and regional planning at the University of Pretoria, is still waiting for a valid matric certificate, four years after she passed matric.

"Students' right to fair administration is being violated. The Department of Basic Education is upsetting students' plans for the future,' said Charl Oberholzer, National Chairman of AfriForum Youth."

The majority of the students affected by the problem are students who are waiting for combined certificates for supplementary exams they wrote. Moreover, it was also reported that the dilemma is related to software or information technology problems in the Department.

‘We call on other students who, like Amy Beukes, are tired of waiting for their matric certificates to get in touch with us. Thereafter our lawyers will send the Department a warning letter, giving them two weeks to issue the certificates,' according to Oberholzer.

‘AfriForum Youth may even bring a court application against the Department if the students do not receive their certificates within the period stipulated in the warning letter,' he added.

Students who are waiting for their matric certificates are invited to join a class action by providing AfriForum Youth with their details on the website www.afriforumyouth.co.za.

Statement issued by Charl Oberholzer, National Chairman, AfriForum Youth, February 7 2012

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