Government has taken note of the increased reporting of fraudulent qualifications and is determined to flush out public servants who misrepresent their academic qualifications.

In a bid to ensure accelerated service delivery, it is important for all government departments; nationally, provincially and locally to guard against employing people with misrepresentations in their CV’s. An environment conducive to entrenching clean governance, requires no less from public servants.   All government departments, their entities and  agencies must implement public service regulations to deal decisively with applicants holding fraudulent qualifications, said Acting DG of the Department of Communications, Donald Liphoko.

“The incidents of misrepresentation, which appear to be on the rise, will not be tolerated as they impact negatively on the reputation of the country, its institutions and the credibility of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Claiming qualifications that one does not have in the pursuit of employment opportunities using  fake qualifications is fraudulent, and clearly a criminal offense.

“We would like to caution people who are embellishing their CVs with fraudulent academic qualifications that the government is committed to rooting out such behaviour.

“Government reiterates the call by Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, for the establishment of a national fraud register and the proposed strengthening of key pieces of legislation to address this fraudulent activity,” Liphoko said.

These interventions will serve to strengthen measures that the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) has already put in place to ensure a verification service for existing employees, prospective employees, and high level appointments..

South Africans are urged to be cognisant of unscrupulous higher education providers who are not registered with the Department of Higher Education and not accredited by official quality assurance bodies.

Liphoko added that government would, in partnership with the Quality Councils and SAQA, ensure that scrutiny and verification of qualifications are rigorously applied to protect the credibility, integrity and reputation of employers from people who possess fake qualifications.

 

Issued by Department of Communications