As of last year, Grade R became compulsory for every South African child. This is a wonderful step towards ensuring a solid educational foundation for our youngest learners. However, this necessary change has also, unfortunately, opened the door for opportunists looking to profit from unsuspecting parents.
A recent and alarming news story from Midrand serves as a powerful warning for all parents and guardians of young learners. An investigation by ENCA News and The Devi Show aired on Sunday 2 November 2025 (find the video here) and exposed the troubling operations of “Academia College,” a school that highlights exactly why verifying a centre’s registration is no longer just a recommendation, it’s a necessity.
The Academia College Story: A Parent’s Nightmare
Since January 2024, Academia College has been advertising itself as a private school catering from pre-school to matric, with fees between R2000 and R3000 per month. Seeing this on a flyer, parents like “Dhumisani,” thought Academia College seemed like a viable option. However, the reality was far from the promise.
Dhumisani reported that the school grounds were permanently under construction and unfinished. More disturbingly, his son repeatedly came home ill from the food provided by the school, having even soiled his clothes without being attended to by staff. There were also days when meals weren’t provided at all, leaving children hungry. When parents raised concerns, they were ignored, leading many to withdraw their children.
The problems ran deeper than just the facilities. Former staff revealed a rushed and unvetted hiring process, with employees being promoted quickly and tasked with work outside their scope, all without the proper resources.
The “Temporary Registration” Myth
At the centre of this controversy is the school’s principal, Katje van der Westheuizen who had graduated from UNISA with a teaching degree, was hired at Academia College as a Grade 1 teacher and then promoted to principal, all within just a few months. She claimed the school operates under a “temporary registration” and is in the process of becoming fully registered.
But here is the fact every parent must know: According to the Gauteng Department of Education, there is no such thing as “temporary registration.” Operating a school without a valid certificate from the provincial education department is illegal.
This isn’t even a new scheme for this operation. The investigation by The Devi Show team uncovered that “Academia College” is just a re-brand of the “New World Institute” that previously operated at the same property, with a new Director appointed as a frontman. The team had exposed the New World Institute for operating illegally in 2023. The Department of Education stated this is a common occurrence – when authorities move to shut them down, they simply change their name and start the cycle again.
Why This Matters for Every Parent, Especially for Grade R
With Grade R now compulsory, the demand for placement has never been higher. This creates the perfect opportunity for scammers and fraudsters who prey on parents who are desperate to find a spot for their child. These “schools” often look legitimate on the surface, using tactics like displaying a property zoning number as a fake registration number, just as Academia College did and having a very polished, professional-looking website as a draw-in.
Without oversight, there is no guarantee that the curriculum is being followed or that the educators are qualified or even if the environment is safe for children. Parents pay fees for a service that is not only subpar but also illegal, and children are exposed to a chaotic and unstable learning environment. The Grade 4-6 parents at Academia College were told halfway through the year that the school will not be offering these grades from the next term. Imagine the chaos these parents went through, having to find a new placement for their child mid-year and a quarter of them had even paid for the full year in advance!
CrecheSpots is Your First Line of Defence
At CrecheSpots, we understand the immense trust you place in an educational institution. Our mission is to empower parents with the tools and information they need to make safe, informed choices.
We are committed to highlighting and promoting only registered and vetted early childhood development centres. We take the guesswork and time-consuming research out of your day, helping you ensure that the foundation of your child’s education is built on a platform of safety, legitimacy, and quality.
We’ll be doing an article on what being a registered ECD centre with the Western Cape Government really means soon. Keep an eye on our socials to stay posted.
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Source: Investigation based on reports from ENCA News and The Devi Show found here.