Higher Education Minister warns VUT to account for corruption claims or face Hawks

The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, has given the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) a stern warning to account for claims of fraud and corruption or face the Hawks.

This comes amid an internal probe by VUT into an employee allegedly selling fake degrees to foreign nationals.

The allegations date back to 2018. It’s believed senior management at the institution may have had credible evidence from a whistleblower for over a year without taking any action.

Manamela has now given VUT until Friday to respond to concerns about possible illegal registrations and irregular admissions.

Higher Education spokesperson Matshepo Seedat said a failure to compile a preliminary report for the minister could put VUT on law enforcement's radar.

“The minister reiterates that the sale of degrees is a criminal offence. Should the university’s internal processes prove insufficient, it is a matter that the department will take to the directorate for priority crime investigation (Hawks).”