Trinity International Bible University has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons since conferring veteran actor and playwright Sello Maake kaNcube with a bogus honorary doctorate. Former Ukhozi FM and Gagasi FM sports presenter Phumlani Dube has revealed that he was also almost a victim of a fake university in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal.

 

PHUMLANI DUBE ALMOST CONFERRED BY BOGUS UNIVERSITY LIKE SELLO MAAKE KANCUBE
Dube, who also worked for Premier Soccer League side AmaZulu Football Club as a marketing manager, said he was excited to change titles from Mr to Dr until the bogus university asked him to fork out dome cash.

“What happened to Sello Maake KaNcube almost happened to me. I was contacted by a “university” of Pinetown last year saying that they want to confer me with a doctorate for my role in making a difference in society through the Phumlani Dube Foundation,” the philanthropist and broadcaster wrote on Facebook.

“I was so happy that I was going to be Dr Dube. However, things stopped making sense when they told me to start by paying R15 000 for catering for the day of my graduation ceremony. That’s when they gave it away and I suspected they were taking me for a ride. I ran away and told them to keep their doctorate!”

CELEBRITIES DUPED BY TRINITY INTERNATIONAL BIBLE UNIVERSITY

Maake kaNcube trended at the weekend after pictures of him being conferred by Trinity International Bible University. He was “honoured” alongside his his on-screen lover, Skeem Saam‘s award-winning actress, Elizabeth Serunye, who plays Jacobeth Thobakgale on the SABC educational drama.

The same “institution” has previously awarded doctorates to businesswoman, Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize; gospel singer, Winnie Mashaba; late gospel diva, Deborah Fraser; and trade unionist, Zwelinzima Vavi.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SPEAKS ON FAKE HONORARY DOCTORATES
However, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology – Blade Nzimande – said the honorary doctorates by a bogus university are not recognised by the department.

“According to our records as the Department of Higher Education and Training, Trinity International Bible University is not a registered private higher education institution.

“Trinity International Bible University is therefore not authorised to offer any qualifications, including honorary degrees.

“We also wish to state that, as the department, we have written to Trinity International University before and warned them about continuing to operate illegally and for them to regularise their operations.

“We have also asked the Council on Higher Education (CHE) for guidance on how honorary qualifications should be offered and by who,” read the statement.