'No such thing as private university': Govt warns about bogus degrees

The Anele and The Club team (947) gets the breakdown on honourary doctorates and bogus institutions from Veli Mbele, spokesperson to the Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande.

Listen to the discussion below.

Conversations around honorary doctorates sparked over the weekend after actor Sello Maake KaNcube was conferred with an honorary doctorate from the Trinity International Bible University.

Honorary doctorates, bestowed at the discretion of an institution, are awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to a particular industry.

Trinity International is not registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and is therefore not legally authorised to offer any qualifications.

“In the South African legal framework, specifically the Higher Education Act, the only institutions that are allowed to use the title 'university' are public universities… There is no such thing as a private university.”

- Veli Mbele, spokesperson - Minister of Higher Education

Mbele urges the public to verify institutions before applying.

The Department publishes a full list of registered and accredited institutions, as well as those people should be wary of on its website.

“Trinity International Bible School is listed at number 89 on the list of institutions that are referred to as bogus."

- Veli Mbele, spokesperson - Minister of Higher Education

Mbele says the government warned the institution 'in good faith' to regularise its existence, but it did not.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.