Dailymaverick logo

South Africa

South Africa, Maverick News

Educor's recovery: Department of higher education fully reinstates City Varsity and Damelin colleges

Educor's recovery: Department of higher education fully reinstates City Varsity and Damelin colleges
Certificates of Educor institutions proving that the company has been fully reinstated. (Photo: Supplied)
Educor has been fully reinstated, says the Department of Higher Education and Training, after the private education group addressed concerns over its financial viability.

The private education group Educor, which consists of City Varsity, ICESA City Campus, Lyceum College and Damelin, has been fully registered and reinstated by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

This comes after the group was provisionally reinstated by Minister of Higher Education and Training Nobuhle Nkabane in August 2024 after former minister Blade Nzimande deregistered Educor for failing to submit proof of financial viability for 2021 and 2022, despite claiming to have 50,000 students enrolled. 

Read more: Nzimande lashes Damelin, CityVarsity, Intec and Lyceum for ‘worst sin’ committed by an education institution

Daily Maverick spoke to Higher Education and Training director-general Nkosinathi Sishi following reports that Educor, along with its private college Damelin, had been registered. Sishi confirmed that the institution has been fully reinstated.

“Indeed, Educor has been reinstated based on agreed progress reports we have received. Much more work needs to be done but we are satisfied that the institutions have adequately addressed our initial concerns. The DHET will continue to demand compliance with our legislation and policies and we stand ready to assist those who are still in need of further guidance,” Sishi said.

Daily Maverick obtained certificates showing that Educor’s colleges have been registered as private higher education institutions. According to the certificates, Damelin’s sites of operation are in Randburg and Braamfontein in Johannesburg, and Overport and Durban City in Durban. City Varsity is on Roeland Street in Cape Town. 

Educor City Varsity has been fully reinstated. (Photo: Supplied)



Parents ‘apprehensive’

Parents of students from City Varsity reacted with shock and surprise that the institution had been reinstated.

Asking to remain anonymous, one parent said: “I really hope and pray that City Varsity fulfil their promise to the final-year students as per [Educor’s Melvin Munsami’s] letter of November.

“As a parent, I am apprehensive as to whether they will fulfil their obligation and promises because of their proven track record of no communication or ‘bury their heads in the sand’ stance. I am not even sure of telling my daughter this because of the mental anguish they have already been put through.”

Another parent said: “We have heard the reinstatement story before. Are they going to make sure that past students graduate or is this just to take on new students? Once they can confirm that, we can move forward.”

Another parent said that if City Varsity is indeed registered, then it should urgently hold final exams for the 2024 academic year, which are still outstanding.

Sishi’s message to the parents was: “All the parents and students affected must find comfort that we are ready to serve their interests. I commend all the institutions for their dedication to our highest standards of quality in education.” 

A certificates proving Damelin has been fully reinstated. (Photo: Supplied)



Troubles at Educor

Owing to Educor’s financial challenges, City Varsity has had a number of problems in recent months, with many lecturers and other staff leaving the institution because of unpaid salaries. 

Read more: Educor’s City Varsity in Cape Town in turmoil with students stranded, ‘heartbroken’ teachers unpaid

Daily Maverick has also reported on the instability of Damelin. In 2024, students were stunned when it announced it would not be holding its end-of-year exams, leaving them uncertain about their academic futures. This decision further exacerbated the ongoing crisis at Damelin, which is already grappling with financial and administrative challenges.

Read more: Students reeling after Damelin cancels year-end exams, urged to transfer without clarity

Daily Maverick approached Educor for comment, which will be included in this article once it has been received. DM