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Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, has ordered a preliminary report from the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) following allegations of a degree-selling syndicate operating within the institution. The minister has given the university until 5 December to submit the report.
According to ministerial spokesperson Matshepo Seedat, Manamela is “deeply concerned” by claims that the syndicate allegedly involves foreign nationals and that senior VUT management may have failed to act on credible whistleblower information for more than a year.
Manamela criticised the reported inaction, stating that delays of this nature are unacceptable, especially when they threaten the integrity of the National Qualifications Framework.
South African universities have faced similar controversies before. In 2016, a Sunday Times investigation revealed that approximately 4,000 fake degrees may have been issued over two decades at the University of Zululand in Empangeni.
Seedat confirmed that the minister has requested a detailed explanation for the alleged 12-month delay in responding to the whistleblower’s report, as well as proof that consequence management processes have begun. Manamela has also instructed the university to take immediate steps to safeguard the 2026 registration cycle.
Should VUT’s internal measures prove inadequate, the matter may be escalated to the Hawks for further investigation.
