The Roots of the Damelin College Deregistration Crisis
Damelin College, a longstanding private higher education institution in South Africa founded in 1943, has long been a key player in the country's post-school education landscape. Part of the larger Educor group, which includes institutions like City Varsity and Lyceum College, Damelin offers a range of qualifications from higher certificates to diplomas across business, IT, and health sciences. However, years of operational and financial woes have culminated in its latest deregistration by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in February 2026.
The crisis traces back to persistent non-compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1997. Complaints from students and staff about unpaid salaries, abrupt campus closures, delayed exam results, and poor administrative support began surfacing prominently around 2021. By 2023, issues escalated with lecturers facing unpaid wages during the holiday season, dubbed a 'Black Christmas' by media reports. These problems highlighted deeper systemic failures in financial management and governance within Educor.
Timeline of Deregistrations and Reinstatements
The deregistration saga began in earnest in March 2024 when then-Minister Blade Nzimande cancelled registrations for four Educor colleges—Damelin, City Varsity, ICESA City Campus, and Lyceum—citing failure to submit audited financial statements and tax clearances for 2021-2022. This affected approximately 13,000 students across 10 campuses, leaving many stranded mid-semester.
- March 2024: Initial deregistration; phase-out for pipeline students promised.
- August 2024: Provisional reinstatement by Minister Nobuhle Nkabane after partial compliance.
- November 2024: Damelin cancels year-end exams, urging transfers without clear credit recognition.
- March 2025: Full reinstatement after Educor submitted progress reports on financial viability.
- December 13, 2025: Minister Buti Manamela issues Notice of Intent to cancel Damelin, City Varsity, and ICESA registrations for ongoing non-submission of 2024 annual reports, financial sureties, and evidence of sustainability.
- February 2026: Final deregistration confirmed; Damelin accused of abandoning students.
This yo-yo pattern of deregistration and reinstatement underscores DHET's stringent oversight amid a national higher education capacity crunch, where public universities can only accommodate about 235,000 first-year students in 2026 against 340,000+ eligible applicants.
Reasons Behind the Latest DHET Deregistration
DHET Director-General Dr. Nkosinathi Sishi cited Damelin's failure to provide audited annual financial statements (AFS), academic records, student data, SARS tax compliance certificates, and occupational health and safety compliance as primary reasons. Some Educor sites, like City Varsity and ICESA, had ceased operations entirely, violating sustainability requirements. The department noted repeated extensions and remedial deadlines ignored, with no 2024 annual reports submitted despite a June 2025 cutoff.
Financial distress is evident: Educor claimed 50,000 students historically but reported only 13,096 in 2022 (Damelin: 4,012). Recent figures are unclear, but thousands remain enrolled, exacerbating the impact. DHET emphasized protecting qualification integrity and student welfare in a sector where private providers educate 20-30% of higher ed students (~80,000 in private colleges in 2023).
Student Impacts: Limbo, Financial Loss, and Demands for Refunds
Current and former students describe feeling 'completely abandoned.' One former student told News24 she paid full fees but now seeks refunds, fearing wasted investment. Social media buzzes with demands for refunds, with X (formerly Twitter) posts highlighting stranded learners unable to complete studies. No widespread protests reported yet, but panic mirrors 2024's chaos, including East London campus closure stranding hundreds.
Key concerns:
- Academic Disruption: No new enrollments; pipeline students may transfer, but credit recognition uncertain.
- Financial Burden: Fees paid (often R30,000+ per year) for undelivered services; NSFAS non-applicable as private.
- Mental Toll: Anxiety over futures in a job market favoring accredited quals.
DHET assures past qualifications remain valid on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), but current enrollees must seek alternatives.Official DHET Statement
Photo by Ahmad Hanif on Unsplash
Staff Struggles and Operational Failures
Lecturers faced unpaid salaries, overload, and racism allegations pre-2024 deregistration. Post-reinstatement, departures continued due to instability. DHET audits revealed marking fiascos and non-communication, eroding trust. For higher ed career seekers, this highlights risks in private providers versus stable public roles.
Broader Educor woes include campus evictions for unpaid rent, amplifying the deregistration trigger.
Legal Pathways for Refunds and Protections Under CPA
The Consumer Protection Act (No. 68 of 2008) shields students as deregistration breaches service contracts. Expert Trudie Broekman advises:
- Gather evidence of payments/losses (receipts, emails).
- Send letter of demand (14-day deadline, bank details).
- Escalate to Small Claims Court (<R20k) or National Consumer Commission/Magistrate’s Court (>R20k).
Students can offset debts against claims. Success depends on proof; thousands pursued this post-2024.Refund Guide
DHET's Role and Student Support Measures
DHET prioritizes compliance to uphold system integrity amid 500,000+ rejected applicants yearly. Post-deregistration, it facilitates transfers to registered providers (check DHET Registry). For validation, contact SAQA. Minister Manamela stresses protections, but critics note slow responses to complaints.
Implications for South Africa's Private Higher Education Sector
Private institutions fill public capacity gaps (235k spots vs. demand), enrolling ~200,000+. Deregistrations signal tighter regulation: 2026 DHET lists exclude non-compliant like Damelin. This pushes growth toward compliant players, but risks access for low-income students reliant on flexible privates.
Stakeholders: SA Union of Students supports deregistration for quality; Educor silent post-notice.
Alternatives and Next Steps for Affected Students
- Verify status via DHET/SAQA.
- Transfer to registered colleges/unis; explore South Africa jobs and courses.
- Pursue NSFAS-eligible public options or private bursaries.
- Leverage Rate My Professor for new institution reviews.
Career advice: Upskill via short courses; check higher ed career advice for pivots.
Future Outlook: Reforms and Lessons for Private Providers
DHET eyes stricter audits, financial sureties. Positive: Boosts credibility, attracts investment. Challenges: Capacity strain, student debt. Constructive solutions include hybrid public-private models, NSFAS extension pilots. For educators, opportunities in compliant institutions via higher ed jobs.
Check university jobs or post a job to rebuild careers amid shifts. Engage via comments below.
