Pretoria - The government said on Wednesday that it was determined to flush out public servants who misrepresented their academic qualifications.
“Government would, in partnership with the Quality Councils and South African Qualifications Authority (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,” acting DG of the Department of Communications, Donald Liphoko, told SA News.
The statement comes as there is an increased reporting of fraudulent qualifications.
“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),” said Liphoko.
He said claiming qualifications that one does not have in the pursuit of employment opportunities using fake qualifications was fraudulent and constituted a criminal offence.
“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,” Liphoko said.
He urged all government departments nationally, provincially and locally, as well as government entities to guard against employing people with misrepresentations in their CVs.
This will be done through the implementation of the public service regulations to deal decisively with applicants holding fraudulent qualifications.
South Africans were also 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 reiterated 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 fraudulent activity.
These interventions, he said, would serve to strengthen measures that the SAQA had already put in place to ensure a verification service for existing employees, prospective employees, and high-level appointments.
ANA