A Delayed Matric Certificate Of A Mamelodi Resident Leads to Unfair Dismissal and Unemployment.

A Delayed Matric Certificate Of A Mamelodi Resident Leads to Unfair Dismissal and Unemployment.

By Mamelodi News, August 28, 2025

MAMELODI – For seven years, France Swate has been fighting what he describes as a life-ruining injustice stemming from delays in receiving his matric certificate from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and Umalusi. The 2005 high school matriculant, who returned to complete his senior certificate in 2015, claims bureaucratic hurdles led to his unfair dismissal from his job in 2018, leaving him unemployed and struggling. Mamelodi News has reached out to the DBE, Umalusi, the Motor Industry Bargaining Council (MIBCO), and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for responses, but as of August 28, 2025, we are still awaiting replies.

In a heartfelt complaint shared with Mamelodi News, Swate detailed his harrowing experience. "My heart is very heavy as I write this," he said. "I need someone to hear my case and help me... Everyday my dreams are slowly fading and I'm getting old."

Swate explained that after completing his senior certificate in 2015—a requirement for most jobs—he waited four years for the physical document. In 2018, while employed, his company conducted a background check through Lexis Refcheck, which reportedly found no record of his certificate with Umalusi, the council responsible for certifying educational qualifications. "I was charged and dismissed for providing false information on my application," Swate recounted. "I provided a copy of the certificate, but they insisted Umalusi had no records."

Desperate for resolution, Swate approached the DBE and Umalusi but claims he received no assistance. After losing his job, he turned to MIBCO, the bargaining council acting on behalf of the CCMA for motor industry disputes. During the unfair dismissal proceedings, Swate finally obtained his certificate from the DBE and presented it as evidence, proving he had not lied on his application. Yet, he lost the case. "How do I lose the case when I had evidence that what I was accused of is wrong?" he questioned. Swate suspects his former employer may have influenced the outcome, noting, "I heard a lot of cases are lost at MIBCO since we could not go to the CCMA."

The fallout has been devastating. Swate, now unemployed for seven years, believes his dismissal record has blacklisted him from job opportunities despite applying relentlessly. He possesses emails and documents supporting his claims and calls for accountability: "Umalusi and the department need to answer why I had to wait so many years to get my certificate. My previous employer needs to answer what kind of verifications they did... My life was ruined by the very government who put regulations and departments."

This case highlights broader issues in South Africa's education and labor systems, including certificate issuance delays and the effectiveness of bargaining councils. Umalusi oversees the quality assurance of qualifications, while the DBE handles certificate distribution. MIBCO, as a CCMA-accredited body, resolves sector-specific disputes, but critics have raised concerns about transparency and fairness in such processes.

Mamelodi News has formally emailed the DBE, MIBCO, and CCMA, requesting investigations into Swate's allegations, including the certificate delay, verification discrepancies, and potential procedural irregularities in his MIBCO case. We have also sought guidance on how affected individuals can rectify employment records. Responses are pending, and we will update this story as developments occur.

Swate's plea underscores the human cost of systemic failures: "I did not deserve what happened to me and I am struggling. PLEASE HELP ME." If you have similar experiences or information, contact Mamelodi News at mamelodinew@gmail.com or WhatsApp us:https://wa.me/message/CBMTUBOZEWCOC1