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The University of South Africa (UNISA) confirmed on Monday, 9 March 2026, that Sarah-Jane Trent is a graduate of the institution.
The university said Trent obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from Unisa in May 2013. The confirmation follows social media posts that claimed she did not hold a degree from the university.
What happened
Unisa released a media statement confirming that Sarah-Jane Trent completed her LLB qualification at the institution.
According to the university, a statement circulating online falsely claimed that Trent did not graduate from Unisa.
The institution said the statement was not issued by the university and misrepresented its official position.
Official response
Unisa said it “distances itself” from the misleading statement circulating on social media.
The university also condemned what it described as the manipulation and misuse of its templates and logo, which were used to make the false message appear official.
Unisa said relevant internal units will investigate the origin of the misleading statement and the misuse of university resources.
The institution added that appropriate legal action may be taken.
Community impact
The clarification comes after online debate about Trent’s academic credentials circulated widely on social media.
Unisa said the false statement misrepresented the university and its official communications.
What happens next
The university says it will investigate how the misleading statement was created and shared.
Officials also said they will consider legal steps once the source of the misuse is identified.
