South Africa’s quality councils have issued a nationwide warning to learners and parents to verify institutions and qualifications before registering for post-school education and training in 2026, as fraudulent and unaccredited providers continue to target the public.
The call was made on Friday, during a joint media briefing of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), the Council on Higher Education (CHE), Umalusi, and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
At the briefing in Pretoria, the entities stressed that while the country’s education system remains credible, the rise of bogus institutions poses a serious threat to learners’ futures and families’ finances.
Occupational training targeted by scammers
QCTO CEO Vijayen Naidoo issued a firm warning against institutions falsely claiming to offer occupational certificates or the historic “Red Seal” trade test.
“As opportunities grow in the occupational training space, so does the number of unaccredited and bogus institutions claiming to offer QCTO certificates. Let us be clear: a QCTO qualification is only valid if it is offered by a QCTO-accredited skills development provider and assessed through a QCTO-accredited trade test or assessment centre,” he said.
Naidoo said the QCTO currently has over 900 occupational qualifications and part qualifications registered on the NQF, all developed by industry and aimed at boosting employability and productivity in key sectors, including new and emerging occupations such as renewable energy, solar photovoltaic installation, and hybrid vehicle technologies.
However, he cautioned that fraudulent providers many of whom are operating online continue to lure learners with promises of guaranteed certificates, fast-track trade tests and “Red Seal” qualifications without assessment.
“If something sounds too good to be true, it is a scam,” he said.