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Memorandum from the Parliamentary Office
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 376
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 11/10/2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 29 OF 2013)
Mr M J R de Villiers (DA-WC) to ask the Minister of Higher Education and
Training:
1) Whether he has received any reports of irregular certificates handed to
graduates at universities; if not, what is the position in this regard;
if so, (a) from which universities and (b) in which area of study at
these universities were these irregularities found;
2) whether the internal auditors have found any graduates who received
irregular certificates; if not, what is the position in this regard; if
so, (a) what will be done to rectify the problem, (b) who was found
responsible and (c) what disciplinary action was taken?
CW506E
REPLY:
1. Yes, I have received a report regarding irregularities with respect to
certificates from the University of Zululand (UniZulu) and North West
University (NWU).
University of Zululand
The report did not include the area of study and any indication that such
certificates had been handed to graduates. In January 2012, a report on
the forensic investigation into the affairs of UniZulu was submitted to
the Department by the Administrator, Professor C De Beer. The report
raised serious irregularities relating to the universityâs employees
being in possession of blank degrees and diplomas which could be used to
fraudulently manufacture and sell false certificates to students.
The Administrator took disciplinary action against 15 individuals,
including members of staff and students, who were charged on the basis of
the outcome of the forensic audit.
The Administrator reported that immediate attention was given to the
findings of the Independent Assessor with regard to admissions,
registration, general enrolment, the security of examinations, etc. The
office of the Registrar was fundamentally restructured and protocol
revised to meet the challenges of registration and certificate
irregularities.
North West University
In a letter to the Director-General dated 4 October 2013, the Public
Protector requested the Department to investigate allegations that NWU
was providing qualifications which did not meet the requirements of the
Council on Higher Education (CHE), and was therefore conferring irregular
certificates to students. The matter has been referred to CHE and is
currently under investigation. Once all the facts have been established
and if the allegations are correct, appropriate action will be taken in
terms of the Higher Education Act of 1997 (as amended).
2. Universities are required to audit their Higher Education Management
Information System (HEMIS) data every year, and to submit it to the
Department. The data is then validated through a specific HEMIS programme
designed for that purpose. No external auditorâs audit report of any
Universityâs HEMIS data has noted findings on graduates who received
irregular certificates. External auditors check the HEMIS data extract of
the institution against the records in the institutionâs production
systems to ensure that the graduates in the HEMIS database equal those
indicated on the institutionâs production system as having graduated.
Since quality assurance is not part of the brief of the data auditors,
any problem with irregular certificates would not be picked up by such
audits. A forensic audit would be required to determine if graduates
received irregular certificates. Such a forensic audit would highlight
the responsible officials, and disciplinary action would have to be taken
by the relevant university in line with their institutional disciplinary
processes.
Compiler/contact persons: Dr Parker and Dr van Staden
Ext: 5889
DIRECTOR â GENERAL
STATUS:
DATE:
REPLY TO QUESTION 376 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr B NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
STATUS:
DATE: