Faking qualifications – now a criminal offence

Faking qualifications – now a criminal offence

Human Resources, Legislation

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the National Qualifications Amendment Bill into law. This means that South Africans who are found guilty of misrepresenting their qualifications could face a harsh fine, up to five years in prison, or both.

This is not limited to the submission of a CV, but could also include making the claim on social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter.

Anyone, not just employers, can report people making false claims to the South African Qualifications Authority, which will publish a national name and shame list of fraudulent credentials.

The Act goes further to also impose potential fines and imprisonment sanctions for educational institutions who make false claims.