The UK Scholarship Sponsorship Certificate is a document that confirms a student’s eligibility for a scholarship or sponsorship to study in the United Kingdom and can be used to secure a visa.

In March 2023 Nokuthula Sibanda and Nothando Ndlovu conspired to offer facilitation services in exchange for US$230 registration and US$5 300 processing fees.

On 2 May 2023 the mother paid registration fee and US$5 300. The remaining US$ 200 was paid the next day where they told her, her daughter would leave for UK in August.

The mother did a follow up on the duo and received unclear information which made her report the matter to the police leading to the arrest of the two women.

In a statement on X, the police said, “Nokuthula Sibanda and Nothando Ndlovu were arraigned before the Magistrates’ court in  Bulawayo on allegations of fraud. The state is alleging that sometime in March 2023, the complainant and her daughter approached the first accused, seeking assistance to secure a UK sponsorship certificate for her daughter. The two accused persons acting in connivance, promised to facilitate the process upon payment of a registration fee of US$230 as well as a processing fee of US$5 300.

“The complainant paid the registration fee and an additional US$5 300 on the 2nd of May 2023. She also paid the remaining US$200 on the 3rd of May 2023. The accused persons assured her that her daughter would depart for the UK in August 2023. Despite numerous follow-ups, the complainant received conflicting information. She reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of both accused persons. The complainant suffered a total loss of US$5 730 and nothing was recovered.”(chronicle)