Gauteng, South Africa | The recent announcement by the University of South Africa (UNISA) that Prophet Walter Magaya never received an honorary doctorate from the institution has cast serious doubt on the role of prominent South African cleric, Professor Solomon Mlambo.
Calls are mounting for an official investigation into his involvement in what is now seen as an elaborate deception.
Professor Mlambo, who heads the Mount Zion Bible School and is a regular guest speaker on Soweto TV, appears to have played a pivotal role in the purported awarding of the fake doctorate to Magaya. A now-infamous image from 2017, showing Magaya and his family celebrating with a UNISA banner in the background, also features Professor Mlambo. His presence in the photo, combined with Magaya’s own statements, strongly suggests that he facilitated or at least endorsed the conferment of the fraudulent qualification.
Magaya, in an interview with The Herald at the time, referenced a letter he had received from Professor Mlambo. According to the letter, Mlambo’s Mount Zion Bible School annually awarded honorary doctorates to deserving candidates across South Africa and beyond. Magaya stated that after receiving the letter, a team from UNISA allegedly visited Zimbabwe to assess his farming ventures and philanthropic work. However, UNISA has now categorically denied any connection to the doctorate.
In a strongly worded statement, UNISA’s media affairs department declared:
“Based on the information provided, the system of the university could not find any record showing that Mr Magaya was ever registered or graduated with UNISA. This means that Unisa does not have Mr Magaya as a student or a graduate. Any certificate he may present claiming to be from Unisa is fraudulent.”
UNISA further condemned the false assertion, warning that such misconduct damages its reputation and promising to take corrective action.
South Africans Call for Investigation into Professor Mlambo
In light of these revelations, South Africans are now calling for an official investigation into Professor Mlambo’s activities. Many are questioning how he was able to link Magaya to an honorary doctorate that UNISA never conferred. Given his high profile in religious and academic circles, concerns are growing that he may have been involved in similar misrepresentations in the past.
Social media has been abuzz with South Africans demanding accountability. Some have urged authorities to probe whether Professor Mlambo and his Mount Zion Bible School have been involved in other questionable conferments. Others argue that UNISA should pursue legal action against those responsible for tarnishing its name.
This controversy has not only put Magaya’s credibility into question but has also raised alarms about the exploitation of religious influence for fraudulent academic recognition. The pressure is now on UNISA, South African authorities, and relevant accreditation bodies to ensure that those responsible, including Professor Mlambo, are held accountable for their actions.