Timeslive reports that Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba announced on Monday that an employee was dismissed after allegedly being involved in a scam which swindled residents of Cosmo City.  

The scam started when Ekhaya Health Centre‚ a training college‚ approached Cosmo City Multipurpose Centre in order to obtain the use of the centre for the provision of nursing classes which were to be offered to the community.  Services offered through the City’s community centres are free to the public, so the agreement with Ekhaya was that their training would also be free.  After a few months it emerged that the now former city employee had colluded with Ekhaya management to demand money from prospective students.  Seven students paid R36,000 for training‚ but never completed their studies after classes were suspended.  The former employee allegedly received R18,000 as part of the deal.  Mashaba has demanded an explanation as to why the employee was allowed to tender a resignation and serve notice rather than face a disciplinary hearing, while the city will seek to open a criminal case.

• Read this report by Neo Goba in full at Timeslive

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