Higher education | Warning against fly-by-night colleges

JOHANNESBURG - The Higher Education Department is urging prospective students to be aware of fly-by-night colleges.

It's advising them to check colleges' registration status with the department.

“These institutions lure and mislead future students into believing that these colleges offer qualifications that are recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA),” said Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande. 

READ: Higher Education Dept to probe fake colleges

“These illegal colleges offer compromised qualifications which are not recognised for employment purposes or for further studying.”

Departmental spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi says there's been a success in shutting down many illegal colleges, but there are others.

"We monitor whatever that's happening through reports that we get from police and victims themselves.

"We close those colleges down, we commence with investigations."