Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela
Higher education leaders in South Africa are facing fresh scrutiny as Minister Buti Manamela calls for swift action over claims of fake degrees at the Vaal University of Technology. The minister wants a preliminary report by Friday, 5 December 2025, to explain why the university may have sat on whistleblower tips for over a year. This comes amid worries that a group involving foreign students could be selling qualifications, putting the whole system’s trust at risk.
These kinds of stories shake faith in our universities, where hard-working students expect fair play. If true, it could mean some graduates hold worthless papers, hurting their job chances and the country’s name abroad. As exams wrap up for many, this reminder of possible wrongdoing hits close to home for families counting on education to build better lives.
Minister’s Strong Call for Answers
Minister Manamela has written to the VUT Council Chairperson, Professor Mandla Radebe, asking for details on the claims. He is deeply worried that the syndicate might involve foreign nationals, and that top university staff knew about it but did little. “It is unacceptable for allegations of this magnitude – which threaten the integrity of our National Qualifications Framework – to be met with administrative delays,” the minister said.
He wants clear reasons for the alleged 12-month hold-up in acting on the whistleblower’s report. The minister also demands proof that steps are being taken against those involved, like starting internal probes or disciplinary actions. On top of that, he calls for quick moves to protect the 2026 student sign-up process, so no fake entries slip through.
A department spokesperson added that the minister sees this as a serious threat to the value of South African qualifications. If the university’s own checks fall short, the matter could go to the Hawks for a deeper look.
What the Allegations Involve
The claims point to a group at VUT selling fake degrees and registrations, mostly to foreign students from places like the Congo. Whistleblowers say this has gone on without much pushback from leaders, even after tips came in more than a year ago. This could mean unqualified people getting papers that let them work or study further, watering down standards for everyone.
The university has started its own check, but the slow start has raised eyebrows. Foreign students might be paying for quick entry without real checks, skipping rules that keep education fair. If proven, this breaks laws meant to guard the quality of degrees and could lead to big fines or job losses for those in charge.
Similar Problems in the Past
This is not new in South African higher education. Back in 2016, a probe found that the University of Zululand might have handed out up to 4,000 fake degrees over 20 years. That scandal led to arrests and changes in how the school runs, showing how deep these issues can go.
Other places have faced the same, like reports of bought qualifications at technical colleges. These cases often tie to weak checks and pressure to boost student numbers for funding. They hurt honest graduates who compete for jobs with people holding dud papers.
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