MDN News reported a week ago that Manamela was not happy that council ignored the whistleblower who raised his concerns about for a year without taking any legal action.

Manamela confirmed that he has received a formal response from the Council of the VUT about the serious allegations of a syndicate selling fraudulent degrees and registrations to foreign nationals.

He said he welcomed the transparency of the Council Chairperson, Professor Mandla Radebe, who has confirmed that these serious allegations were never tabled before the University Council until media enquiries surfaced in November 2025.

This was despite the fact that the matter was reported by a whistleblower in August 2024.

“It is deeply concerning that the oversight body of the institution was kept in the dark regarding allegations that threaten the core academic integrity of the university,” said Manamela.

Manamela further said that he noted and endorsed the council’s resolution to reject the preliminary report submitted by University Management as “wholly inadequate and institute an immediate independent forensic investigation into the alleged syndicate and the timeline of management’s response.

He denied council’s request for a three-month period to conclude this forensic investigation.

Manamela he has written to the VUT Council requesting a supplementary brief on the immediate interim measures being implemented to safeguard the 2026 registration process.

“We have asked the council to confirm specifically how they will verify the credentials of foreign nationals and applicants claiming ‘recognition of prior learning’ during this registration window. We also expect immediate consequence management for any staff members implicated, to prevent them from accessing the university’s IT systems while the investigation is underway,” he said.

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In a statement it announced through social media that the sad news of her passing away happened on Tuesday.

“It is with deep sorrow and profound shock that we announce the untimely passing of Dr Jennifer Anne Glennie on 2 December 2025 in a tragic car accident,” the statement reads.

Manamela extended his deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Glennie’s family, friends, colleagues, and the entire higher education sector.

He said that her passing represents a significant loss to our country.

“Ms Glennie was a visionary leader whose lifelong passion for education, particularly in distance learning, has left an indelible mark. From the dark days of apartheid, her work was steadfastly committed to expanding access, equity, and justice in education. She was a pioneering force in developing contextually appropriate, activity-based learning materials and innovative student support mechanisms that transformed the landscape of South Africa’s distance education,” he said.

Manamela said her exceptional contributions were far reaching.

“She played a key role in shaping the national higher education architecture, including leadership in establishing the Council on Higher Education, a two-decade contribution to the Council of the University of South Africa (Unisa), and representing South Africa on the Commonwealth of Learning. She was also instrumental in the founding of Sol Plaatje University,” he said.

Manamela further said that Glennie was at the forefront of promoting Open Educational Resources (OER), to create meaningful educational opportunities for poor and marginalised groups.

“The higher education sector would not be what it is today without the dedication of pioneers like Jennifer Glennie. Her deep love for the people of this country and her abhorrence for injustice touched and improved many lives. Her role in expanding access to higher education for Africans and her legacy will continue to inspire us,” said Manamela.

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Recently the VUT Council came underfire after a whistleblower who claimed to be a Congolese national alleged that the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) was facing severe institutional following allegations about a long-running scheme to fraudulently award degrees and registrations to international students, primarily from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for a fee.

The scandal is said to be dating back to 2016 and it is now threatening the university’s accreditation, its reputation and the integrity of South Africa’s higher education system.

The whistlebloqwer further claimed that the scheme involved a network of corrupt university insiders and external agents who, for significant financial gain, facilitated the enrollment and graduation of foreign students who did not meet academic requirements.

Manamela, said that he has noted with serious concern the reports regarding an alleged degree-selling syndicate at the VUT, involving foreign nationals.

Manamela further said that the ministry had previously indicated that it would await the outcome of the University’s internal probe, but the minister was disturbed by allegations that senior management may have been in possession of credible evidence from a whistleblower for over a year without taking decisive action.

“It is unacceptable for allegations of this magnitude, which threaten the integrity of our National Qualifications Framework to be met with administrative delays.

“If management knew about this a year ago, as alleged, simply ‘investigating’ is no longer enough. We need to know why the perpetrators were supposedly left in the system to potentially corrupt the 2026 intake,” said the fuming Manamela.

Manamela has today written to the VUT Council Chairperson, demanding a preliminary report by Friday, 5 December 2025.

Manamela requested specific details on Why there was an alleged 12-month delay in acting on the whistleblower’s report, proof that “consequence management” is actively taking place and immediate measures to ring-fence the 2026 registration process to protect it from further manipulation.

Manamela reiterated that the sale of degrees is a criminal offence.

“Should the university’s internal processes prove insufficient, It is a matter that the Department will take to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks),” he said.

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This briefing highlights the department’s ongoing commitment to stability, transparency, and accountability within South Africa’s Post-School Education and Training system.

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