PRETORIA – The University of South Africa (UNISA) has announced its intention to take legal action against Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD) leader Walter Magaya.
A statement from UNISA highlights that, Magaya is accused of fraudulently obtaining a diploma and a PHD while falsely claiming it was awarded by the reputable South African institution.
UNISA has announced it will address the matter through legal channels.
“The University of South Africa (Unisa) notes with serious concern information doing the rounds in the public domain as well as in a recent video circulating on social media, where it is purported that a certain Zimbabwean national, Walter Magaya, is a graduate or alumnus of the university,” reads part of the statement.
“Responding to a media query from a certain international media platform, the university confirmed that, based on the information provided by the said media platform, the system of the university could not find any record showing that Mr Magaya was ever registered or graduated with Unisa.
“This effectively means that Unisa does not have Mr Magaya either as a student or a graduate. Any certificate/s he produces which he claims to be from Unisa is/are therefore fraudulent.
“Subsequent to the issuing of the media response, the university also came across a video clip in the social media domain, wherein Mr Magaya also claims to have received an honorary doctorate from Unisa.
“The university has never conferred any honorary doctorate on Mr Magaya and strongly condemns this false claim.
“We believe that conduct of this nature damages and brings our brand into disrepute and we reserve the right to take appropriate corrective action. Relevant authorities within the university have therefore been requested to take the necessary legal action in this regard.”
Magaya was exposed on Tuesday by UK based journalist Maynard Manyowa.
Manyowa wrote to UNISA inquiring about Magaya’s diploma after speculation was rife that it was fake.
Magaya submitted the diploma while contesting his disqualification from the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) elections, arguing that he should not have been excluded for failing to provide an O’ Level certificate, a key requirement.
However, a letter sent to Manyowa by the UNISA confirmed the diploma was fabricated.
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