By: Natasha Archary

Thabo Ditsele, Associate Professor of Sociolinguistics at Tshwane University of Technology joins Gugulethu Mfuphi on Kaya Biz to unpack the criteria for an Honorary Doctorate.
This after actor Sello Maake kaNcube received an Honorary Doctorate from Trinity International Bible University over the past weekend.
Trinity International Bible University is not a registered private higher education institution, and according to the Department of Higher Education and Training is therefore not authorized to bestow any qualifications, let alone an Honorary degree.
Prof. Ditsele shares that a recpient of an Honorary Doctorate did not study, nor write an exam to receive the qualification.
“An Honorary Doctorate is not the same as a regular PhD or NQF Level 10, because a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate did not study for it.
A university contacts the recipient to say, ‘we believe you’ve done something outstanding in society, for that we are honouring you,’ so it’s not a qualification that you can use to try to get ahead in life because you didn’t study for it.
In fact on your CV, you’re not allowed to include an Honorary Doctorate under your academic qualifications on your CV.”
Prof. Ditsele further stresses that recipients of an Honorary Doctorate should not refer to themselves as “Dr” because the Honorary Doctorate is not a PhD.
Businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize who also received an Honorary Doctorate from the university in 2021, refers to herself as Dr. Shauwn Mkhize.
Mkhize received an honorary degree in philosophy for her philanthropic work.
Listen to the conversation on Kaya Biz:
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