BOGUS VARSITY FOUNDED ‘AFTER BATTLE WITH DEMONS’

GLARING grammatical errors and spelling mistakes on the website of Watchman University PTY LTD Technology – Theology Developments should be the first sign to alert prospective students that the institution is bogus.

The “online university” is one of many that the department of higher education and training has warned students seeking study opportunities this year to stay away from.

The “university”, which is believed to be operating in Mpumalanga, does not provide a physical address on its website. The two provided cellphone numbers went unanswered.

Higher Education Department spokesman Madikwe Mabotha said the department had received complaints regarding the “illegal” university.

The university claims to offer theology and science courses online. It also promises that students who study the science courses will get internship programmes in America and Australia.

Detailing the history of the “university”, its founder and head “professor” Azate Ga claims on the “university” website that around 1995 he received a message from God while battling demons that he must start a Bible college and that’s how the “university” was founded.

Riddled with gramatical errors, he writes in the website that he was born in Africa and “fought liberation in Africa”. “Now, the black Africa always where under recision, poor of the poorest … then I started immigrating to other places suprise (sic) , thing where the same black was black indeed... the weise of it is the denial of proper education to black Africa (sic),” Ga wrote in the website.

The “university” claims that from March it will offer “lenson” (sic) in “bacharel in theology” for seven months at a cost of $13 795 “visa [is] incluided, accommodation inclided (sic)”. The “university” claims to be registered with the department and has a registration number on its website. However, the department denied such registration.

“The department also confirms that the Watchman University (PTY) LTD is promising enrolment without proof of a matric or national senior certificate,” said Mabotha. In its website the “university” urges students to make payments through a Capitec bank account or by sending the cash via any supermarket. Mabotha said the department was concerned about “the growing tendency of fraudulent online universities and colleges”.

“The department urges matriculants and students seeking study opportunities to authenticate the accreditation credentials of institutions before enrolling,” said Mabotha, also hinting at a raid of bogus institutions.