Unisa distances itself from ‘false claims’ of honorary degrees

South African university denies it awarded honours to three individuals

The University of South Africa has strongly denied that it conferred honorary doctorates on three individuals who have appeared in images and video on social media that seem to show them being awarded degrees.

Two of the three—Pemphero Mphande, a self-proclaimed philanthropist from Malawi, and Patience Namadingo, a Malawian musician—have responded to Unisa’s statement. The third, named by Unisa as Mansoor Sharif Karim, has not yet responded publicly.