Gauteng, EC and Mpumalanga packed with illegal private colleges

Over 40 illegal private college operators have been apprehended since 2011, according to the Department of Higher Education and Training. The department shared that some of the illegal private colleges are being operated by foreign nationals.

SA lays charges with the FBI against illegal private colleges

The foreign nationals are from countries such as the USA. Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga have the highest number of fake private colleges, said the department. Deputy Minister of the department Buti Manamela stated that his department has laid charges with the FBI.

The department was briefing the oversight committee on Higher Education and Training in Parliament. Manamela told the committee that the number of illegal colleges have shown a decline recently. However, they are still coming back in some parts of South Africa.

Government continues to stop the institutions

Explaining how the department has been stopping the colleges, Manamela explained that the department has been working with SAPS and the Department of Basic Education. He stated that they had been ‘cracking down’ on the operators.

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“Over 40 of the bogus operators have been arrested which includes US-based operators using the logo of the higher education as a way of enticing the students. Because of the involvement of the US-based operators, we have also laid charges with the FBI and we published the list of colleges local and international on our website as the means to warn the public of the scrupulous service providers.”

Buti Manamela, Department of Higher Education and Training

He added that the way some of the illegal private colleges are operating could be considered sophisticated. He shared that the research unit from the department has been working with some of the colleges and they (the colleges) are committed to meeting SA’s requirements.

Government urges colleges to register

Director-General of the Department Nkosinathi Sishi stated that all private colleges need to be registered. The registration will allow for them to meet legal status, reports SABC News.

Sishi explained that the department’s work in cracking down on illegal private colleges is expected to find and close down more colleges in the upcoming months.

“Since 2020 to date we have closed some of the private colleges and we will continue to close others through the provisions and following the processes of the law. And we will assist those who want to comply,” said Sishi.

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