Following explosive claims of a “degree-selling syndicate” and accusations that the university disregarded a warning from a whistleblower dating back to August 2024, Vaal University of Technology (VUT) has taken steps to correct the record. Media reports have thrust VUT into the spotlight after allegations surfaced of a long-running degree-selling scheme allegedly involving foreign nationals, drawing serious concern from Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela. The claims were first raised more than a year ago by a whistleblower who alerted senior management to suspected fraudulent qualifications reportedly sold, mainly to Congolese students, since 2018.
Despite repeatedly flagging the matter and urging the university to scrutinise questionable B.Tech registrations and past graduates, the warnings appear to have gone unheeded. Manamela stated that the accusations are far too serious and the potential harm to the nation’s qualifications framework is far too great for a passive approach. The ministry disclosed that it had originally decided to wait for the results of VUT’s internal investigation.
He shared that he was particularly disturbed by claims that senior VUT executives may have sat on credible whistleblower evidence for more than a year without taking meaningful action. Manamela wrote a letter to the VUT Council Chairperson on December 3 demanding a preliminary report by December 5. “Why was there an alleged 12-month delay in acting on the whistleblower’s report.
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Proof that ‘consequence management’ is actively taking place. Immediate measures to ring-fence the 2026 registration process to protect it from further manipulation,” he said.
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