GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN ON BOGUS COLLEGES AHEAD OF 2026 APPLICATIONS

Wed 16 July 2025:

Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, has reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening and enhancing the campaign against bogus colleges ahead of the 2026 academic year application season.

Gondwe led a two-day intergovernmental awareness campaign in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, in East London, Eastern Cape, on Monday and Tuesday.

The campaign aims to assist students and parents in avoiding illegal higher education institutions.

Buffalo City is home to a large student population, including campuses of Walter Sisulu University, several Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, and various institutions of higher education institutions concentrated in the East London city centre.

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The campaign saw participation from various government departments and entities, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Department of Home Affairs, Department of Employment and Labour, South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), and Umalusi.

Gondwe said the problem with bogus or illegal colleges is that they not only rob students and their parents of their hard-earned money but also deprive them an opportunity to obtain a legitimate qualification.

“This issue is close to my heart, and that is why I have worked to strengthen this campaign and give it real impact by partnering with [key] law enforcement agencies,” Gondwe said.

Gondwe and her team visited four private higher education institutions and identified significant challenges related to infrastructure and lack of accreditation for certain programmes in three of the institutions.

The Deputy Minister emphasised that while private institutions play a critical role in the education system, especially given limited space in public universities and TVET colleges, “they must do so legally.”

“You might recall that we faced a space issue in higher education at the beginning of the academic year, as we only have 50 TVET colleges and 26 public universities, which can only accommodate a limited number of students.

“Therefore, we recognise and appreciate the role that private institutions of higher education can play in enrolling students whose parents can afford it, but they must be registered and offer programmes that are accredited by our quality assurance bodies, Umalusi, Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), and the Council on Higher Education,” she said.

Working together with the campaign partners, the Deputy Minister ensured scrutiny of the identified institutions to ensure full compliance.

She also announced that her office is working on establishing formal partnerships with law enforcement agencies to promote safety on campuses and combat the spread of bogus colleges.

“We are finalising a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with SAPS regarding our collaboration in regulating the space because we need assistance; we cannot work alone as a department. I believe that the MOA will also address issues of Gender-Based Violence in higher education institutions, so I am very excited about the partnership with SAPS,” she said.

The Deputy Minister further expressed gratitude for ongoing cooperation with the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Employment and Labour.

The campaign concluded with a visit to Ebenezer Majombozi High School in East London, where learners were educated on how to identify legitimate institutions and avoid falling prey to scams during the 2026 application season.

– SAnews.gov.za

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