Minister confirms deregistration of four Educor colleges
At least 13 000 students are said to be affected by the de-registration of Damelin, CityVarsity, Icesa City Campus and Lyceum College.
The Department of Higher Education says it took the decision due to their failure to submit audited financial statements.
The colleges are owned by private education provider, Educor.
They have had various allegations levelled against them, including complaints about the quality of education they are providing and the non-payment of staff.
Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande says the colleges have been given until the end of the year to phase out current enrolled students. They may not take in any more students.
"In addition to failing to submit evidence of their financial violability to the department, before Educor brands can be deemed as dysfunctional - and this is mainly measured against the daily complaints received from students, most of which remain unresolved - any institution that has been notified by the Registrar or that whose provisional registration has been cancelled, must inform its students within 14 days and reimburse any enrolled student who has a lawful claim on the institution."
Nzimande says the department will help the affected students, many of whom will need to find new learning institutions where they can complete their studies.
According to its website, Educor is the largest private education provider in Southern Africa.
