BusinessLive reports that according to Higher Education and Training Minister Naledi Pandor, misrepresentation of qualifications was a major concern in the public and private sectors.  

Speaking in a heated debate on the National Qualifications Framework Amendment Bill on Tuesday, Pandor said the bill strengthened the ability of South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) to verify qualifications.  It also provided for the naming and shaming of frauds who claimed fake qualifications in an online public register administered by SAQA.  The minister refuted claims made by the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) that the bill would impose an intolerable burden.  ‘We have an extensive learner database within SAQA with over 20-milllion learner records on what is a digital database, which can be accessed fairly speedily.  We believe this legislation and its requirements are enforceable,” said Pandor before the National Assembly voted to pass the bill.  It will now be referred to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.  Tuesday’s debate was heated after weekend reports that DA senior MP and chief whip John Steenhuisen might not meet his party’s proposed minimum requirement of a degree for the holding of the position of the party’s chief whip

• Read the full original report by Bekezela Phakathi at BusinessLive

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