Johannesburg - A man and a woman were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly manufacturing a wish pearl gift set counterfeit matric certificate in Ogies, Mpumalanga police said.

The two were arrested after undercover police visited their offices on Tuesday and asked for a matric certificate, said Captain Leonard Hlathi.

"The suspect told them that they should leave behind their copies of identity documents, lists of subjects that wholesale coral jewelry they wanted, personal particulars and R300 cash."

They were told to return the next day to collect their documents. When the officers did so, they arrested a 20-year-old woman and the office owner, 36.

Police also confiscated a laptop, colour printer and wish pearl jewelry fraudulent documents.

The two would appear in the Ogies Magistrate's Court to answer to charges of fraud.

Johannesburg - The Department of Basic Education said on Friday it was satisfied with the freshwater pearl bracelet administrative measures put in place to ensure smooth matric exams.

"We call on teachers, parents and learners to utilise this time constructively to prepare," department spokesperson Granville Whittle said.

The Council of Education Ministers made the pronouncement of its readiness after a meeting held on Thursday and Friday.

Whittle said the council approved the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill 2009, which contains amendments to  twisted pearl necklace give effect to the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The bill also proposes a number of changes to the SA Schools Act.

"These will include changes fo cultured pearl jewelry r the identification of additional no fee schools," Whittle said.

Other proposed changes include amendments that will require school principals to assist the governing bodies with the management of school funds, and for "reasonable" steps to be taken to prevent financial maladministration.

Johannesburg - Three people were arrested in Nelspruit after they were found in possession of leaked 2009 matric examination papers, Mpumalanga police said on cultured pearl jewelry Wednesday.

Two matric pupils and a teacher were found in possession of examination papers for Mathematics Paper 1 and 2, Physical Science Paper 1 and 2, and Accounting, said Captain Leonard Hlathi.

He said one pupil and the teacher were arrested on Tuesday and the other pupil was arrested on Wednesday.

"We have charged them with breaching the pearl jewelry wholesale Control Access Information Act of 2000. They will all appear at the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court on Thursday."

Hlathi said the examination papers were now held as evidence by the police.

Mpumalanga education department spokesperson Jasper Zwane confirmed the arrests. He said the three were in possession of examination "material" that they were not supposed to freshwater pearl earrings possess.

"Investigations are ongoing to verify the type of material, the spread and if it can be linked to the coming examinations," said Zwane.

Zwane commended the police for their swiftness in handling the matter.

Matric examinations will commence on October 26.

The protests started on freshwater pearl jewelry September 25 after the department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs released a report implicating Lekwa municipal officials in fraud, maladministration and corruption.

Several properties, including a councillor's house, municipal administration block, community hall and wholesale coral jewelry library were set alight.

Residents demanded that all councillors resign.

Since the protests started, 158 people have been arrested for public violence in the Standerton area.

There have been at least a dozen incidents of cultured pearl jewelry violent service delivery protests in Mpumalanga this year, resulting in the death of five people and the arrest of more than 500 for offences ranging from public violence to arson.

Sydney Masinga

Standerton - The troubled Lekwa local municipality in Standerton was on Wednesday placed under administration and inflatable tent all members of the mayoral committee recalled.

This comes after violent service delivery protests in Sakhile township.

Municipal spokesperson Sipho Mkhwanazi said on Wednesday that a decision came after a meeting in freshwater pearl necklace Standerton between influential members of the ANC, which included ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, national executive committee member Fikile Mbalula and Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza.

"It has happened, my brother, we are under administration as from now and all the members of the mayoral committee, including Mayor Queen Radebe-Khumalo, were recalled," said Mkhwanazi.

He added that acting municipal manager Jabu Sindane would be in charge of the municipality until an twisted pearl necklace administrator has been appointed.

 "I can't hide my excitement that these thugs have been recalled," said Bashin Mofokeng, a member of the Sakhile community forum.