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Johannesburg - The University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the
University of Cape Town (UCT) have both vowed to prosecute individuals who use
fake degrees purporting to have been issued by their institutions.
Bought from so-called degree mills in the US and the UK, virtually any degree, ranging from a bachelor's degree to a doctorate, can be purchased for between $200 and $500.
Professor Aart Boessenkool of the UJ said the institution has recently become aware that its degrees were being falsified and sold over the internet.
"To ensure the continued integrity of our degrees and
diplomas, we have joined forces with the Stellenbosch-based degree verification
service company QVS (Qualification Verification Services), which can instantly
detect whether a degree is genuine or fake.
"In the event of it being fake, we will definitely
prosecute the individual for fraud and for bringing the good name of UJ into
disrepute."
Boessenkool said most degree mills covered themselves
legally by referring to their fakes as "novelty" degrees - usually in
small print. The fact that they also offered a fax verification service was a
clear indication, however, that the object was to fool prospective employers
into believing the degree was real.
UCT registrar Hugh Amoore said he was aware that UCT "degrees" were being sold over the internet, and warned prospective employers to verify every UCT degree either with the university or through a qualifications verification service.
"It is a worldwide problem and not only South African
universities are being targeted by these degree mills," he said, adding
that it was policy to prosecute people who used fake degrees purporting to come
from UCT.
QVS MD Danie Strydom said a growing number of
"degrees" and "diplomas" issued by non-accredited
institutions are being discovered during the qualifications verification
process when prospective employers verify the credentials of applicants.
Strydom's company offers a verification service for seven major tertiary institutions.
