Legendary actor Sello Maake kaNcube has broken his silence over the scandal that the honorary doctorate Trinity International Bible University College conferred on him was phoney.
The university awarded the bogus qualification to Maake kaNcube and a number of
other prominent figures in April this year, in what has been seen as a marketing gimmick by the general public.
Shortly after this, the ministry of higher education, science and innovation issued a statement, indicating that according to its records, Trinity Holy Bible University was not a registered private higher education institution.
The department said the fong kong university was therefore not authorised to offer any
qualifications, including honorary degrees.
This left a nasty egg on the faces of Maake kaNcube and other recipients of the fake honorary doctorates.
Pouring his heart out for the first time since the scandal broke out in April, the former Generations thespian said he was seeking legal counsel against the college.
In a statement issued on behalf of his non-governmental organisation, Sello Maake kaNcube Foundation, by his wife Pearl Maake kaNcube of Wisdom Mobile, the former Skeem Saam actor said the scandal, which became a cannon fodder for both tabloid and broadsheet papers, defiled his image and cost him financially.
“As you may know, on April 20, 2024, Trinity Holy Bible University awarded honorary doctorates to me and many other individuals.
“This negative publicity has resulted in immeasurable damage to my name and reputation, and impacted my ability to earn additional income or access business opportunities.
“As you can imagine, this matter has caused me and my family immeasurable strain, and it is our wish to put this matter behind us and for me to continue focussing on my work as a writer, actor, playwright, director, and social activist.
“Because the news of my receiving an honorary doctorate was in the public domain and trending for extended periods, I was on the receiving end of a lot of public scrutiny and negative publicity.
“As part of protecting my name and reputation, I have sought legal advice so as to
establish what recourse is available to me,” he stated.
Maake-kaNcube said he was unaware that the university was a fly-by-night institution, and that he would have sneezed at the doctorate had he known it was not legally registered with the relevant authorities.
“For the record, I wish to state it clear for all to hear: I, Sello Maake kaNcube, would not have accepted the honorary doctorate had I known at the time that Trinity International Bible University was not a registered institution.
“I, therefore, wish to refute any perception that I may have knowingly engaged in any fraudulent or illegal activity. I did not engage in any fraudulent or illegal activity, and I reject any negative perceptions associated with my name.”
He said that his team and representatives from the higher education and training department held a meeting to further analyse the scandal.
The internationally renowned actor also stated that the ministry indicated in the meeting that it had written to Trinity Bible University before conferring the bogus qualification on him and warned it to regularise its operations.
“Part of the outcome of the meeting was a shared commitment to work together to help correct what has happened and also support the effort to expose illegal colleges.
“In conclusion, as discussed in the meeting with the department of higher education and training, I am willing to consider supporting the effort to expose and raise greater public awareness on illegal colleges,” he said.
Your backroom staff should have investigated this before you registered with them and not try to defend yourself with silly reasons. People are always advised to check first with the education department to check the validity and whether the institution is registered to avoid this kind of embarrassment, yet you decided to go and register with them
Please read again. He was not registered with them as a student. He was conferred with the honorary doctorate.
@Hlaks you’ve gotten the wrong end of the stick here. Sello didn’t register or study at the college. He was offered an honary doctorate which is common course for tertiary institutions to do. If you receive such an offer from an institution that exists you may take it for granted that all is in order
The man did not register with the college. Can you please get your point straight
Makhosi, what is the government responsibility about such institutions.
Hlaks, maybe the government should be doing their job, and being proactive,for which based upon history is speaking up well after the horse has bolted as is typically government ministers usual excuse. A case in many points health, education and many more departments.
Also bear in mind that this is an honorary doctrate.
Our government is not responsibly. How can an institution operates in a country while not registered and no consequences for that.