‘We are not a bogus college’ – claims director
Padayachee further claimed that he was the sole founder and director of 21st Century Medical Health Care Professional Academy.
In an exclusive article headlined: ‘Bogus nursing college exposed’, which was published in the Rising Sun last month, it was reported by our journalist that a full scale investigation had been launched by police after it was alleged that a privately-owned nursing college, based in Arena Park, had unqualified lecturers and was not recognised by the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA).
Making the allegations to the newspaper was nursing student, Kemeshnee Naicker.
ALSO READ: ‘Bogus’ nursing college exposed
She reported that she enrolled at the nursing academy in November 2020 with the hope to change her life for the better after losing her mother to cancer. However, the situation took a turn for the worse when she visited a Chatsworth clinic seeking assistance.
“I was told that in order to graduate, I had to complete practical hours so I visited a clinic but was left shocked after being told that the college was not accredited,” she told the Rising Sun. Naicker claimed that when she came across the 21st Century Health Care Professional Academy, she was overjoyed as she thought that she had met all the requirements. “Thereafter, I had enrolled and paid all my fees,” she stated.
Upon receiving the information about the illegitimate qualification, Naicker proceeded to call the college and was not given a proper answer.
“I was practically going around in circles with the founder, Drennan Padayachee, so I decided to contact the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority directly and was told that the college was not on their system. I then opened up a case at the Chatsworth police station,” she continued.
Refuting these serious allegations through their attorney from Legal Wise, the founder, Drennan Padayachee, claimed in a statement to the Rising Sun that their college is registered but pending accreditation. In a meeting with Padayachee and his staff members at the Rising Sun head office, he claimed that his institution was not a nursing college but rather a Medical Health Care Professional Academy offering a Health Care Assistant Course.
However, Naicker continues to stand by her words, claiming that she was told by the owners that it was a nursing college and on that basis, she enrolled herself. Padayachee further claimed that he was the sole founder and director of 21st Century Medical Health Care Professional Academy.
He claims that Naicker had made false accusations against the college and has been bound by a contract with 21st Century. “The company is registered with the CIPC, however, it is pending accreditation. Upon Miss Naicker enrolling herself into the institution, she signed a contract with the institution on November 2, 2020. This contract was completed in her sound and sober senses without any undue influence. Students are required to sign contracts at induction and orientation, which is a clear stipulation in their contracts. In January 2021, Miss Naicker opened a case of fraud against Mr Sashan Singh and myself where our company resorted to getting a private attorney to draw statements and submit proof to the Chatsworth SAPS. We were advised by a private attorney that the case was closed due to the lack of proof and the contradictory evidence that we submitted to the detective. In January 2021, we had to go to the extent of getting the police involved again as we had to get a protection order against Miss Naicker based on the verbal abuse via social media and telephonic calls. Mr Singh and I escorted the police to Miss Naicker’s premises to hand the protection order to her but she refused to accept the order, claiming that she had COVID-19. She told the officer that she could not come outside,” he claimed in the statement.
ALSO READ: Association puts the brakes on bogus driving schools
He further mentioned that he is a registered enrolled nurse.
“I was employed at the eThekwini Township Care Centre Clinic via a health system’s trust on a six-month contract basis from June 2020 to December 2020. Miss Naicker acquired false information from the clinic although 21st Century community development students have been gaining experience with home-based projects as well as community screening and testing. The institution has helped many residents in the community to do screening and testing, ensuring there was no spread of the virus during these trying times. We at 21st Century aim to help our community in any way possible. We have now branched off into an NGO on May 11, 2021. Miss Naicker was holding a blank certificate printed by her partner. We at 21st Century Medical Health Care Professional Academy did not give out any certificates as we are still pending accreditation due to this pandemic. Miss Naicker has been served with a letter of demand for defamation of character from our legal representative. The 21st Century Medical Health Care Professional Academy’s reputation as well as those directors and myself have been tarnished. We have sought medical assistance from our medical practitioner for stress and anxiety-related causes. We hope and pray from this statement that the community at large will get clarity and see us for what we stand for,” he concluded in the statement.
Visit our sister sites for more news in the respective areas:
