Claiming to hold a tertiary qualification that you do not have could come with a jail term of five years in South Africa. The new National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act came into effect recently and aims to prevent South African individuals from misrepresenting their qualifications. Even misrepresenting your qualifications on social media could get you into trouble with the South African Qualification Authorities.
Section 32B(3) of the Act provides that “A person is guilty of an offence, if such person falsely or fraudulently claims to be holding a qualification or part-qualification registered on the NQF or awarded by an education institution, skills development provider, QC or obtained from a lawfully recognised foreign institution.” In terms of s32B(6), any person convicted of an offence in terms of s32B(3) is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or to both a fine and imprisonment.
Click here to read a media article that includes comments by Thabang Rapuleng, director for employment practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.
Click here to download the Act.
