Cops warned students of bogus institutions

The Pretoria Central South African Police Service joint forces with the Department of Community Safety with the assistance of the Community Policing Forum, Crime prevention Wardens and Pretoria Technical college held awareness campaign about bogus institutions.

The campaign was held on Monday at Capital city of Tshwane.

The campaign aim was to warned the community about a widespread of bogus institutions.

Speaking to Pretoria Central spokesperson Constable Thabang Nkhumise told the Tshwane Talks that this is part of the awareness and outreach programs that seeks to minimise crime in the inner city and further to educate the community about the serge of crime in the policing precinct.

“The new academic year for 2024 has just started and number of people will be flocking into the inner city to seek better opportunities and as a result they will be more prone falling victims of crime,” Constable Nkhumise said.

He said various pamphlets were distributed in corner Lillian Ngoyi and Pretorious street containing a number of safety tips.

Students were also warned to be more vigilant and cautious and take note of the following:
• Be wary of bogus sales persons that are roaming the streets of Pretoria.
• To not transfer any cash without verification and ensure that the account is legit.
• To be more vigilant of this fly by night institutions.
• To ensure that the institution they choose to enrol with are registered with the Department of Basic Education and Higher Education.
• To be more cautious of their surroundings and avoid walking in secluded places.

The station Commander Brigadier Gibin Hlengane Mashaba says this will be a continuous project by the station and all the relevant stakeholders to visit all this institutions, thus to ensure that law enforcement agencies minimise crime and people being defrauded of their money.

He further urged the public to come forth and report any suspicious activities and rest assured they can do it anonymously so on various platforms 08600 10111, 112, MySAPS app or directly call the station on 012 353 4230/4231