This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
The New Age reports that the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) is embroiled in legal battles with more than 30 bogus colleges to force them to shut down at a time when matriculants are seeking institutions to further their studies next year at tertiary level.
DHET’s spokesperson Khaye Nkwanyana said the department decided to clamp down on them as many pupils fall prey to bogus colleges that extort large amounts of money from students. Bogus colleges are institutions that are not registered with the department but claim to offer, among other things, accredited qualifications. Some even promise instant jobs. Last year the department released a list of 40 bogus colleges operating in the country. “We have closed Anoited University, Oxbridge Academy, which has been purporting to offer 40 diplomas. Other institutions are engaged in legal battles with the courts and the department,” Nkwanyana said. He admitted that there could be other bogus colleges which have not yet been identified. But he said the department was winning the war against these colleges as there was “a great exposure and many students are now aware”. The small claims court has also assisted students in getting refunds and this automatically forced the institution to shut down.
Nkwanyana called on those applying to tertiary institutions to call the DHET at 0800-872-222 to verify the registration number of any institution.
Read this report by Batandwa Malingo in full on page 2 of The New Age of 16 September 2015
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page