LLB graduate wins against Unisa over refusal to issue amended certificate after surname change
The North Gauteng High Court has ruled that the University of South Africa (Unisa) must issue an amended LLB certificate to a graduate who legally changed his surname. The court rejected the university's 'no duplicate' policy, distinguishing between lost documents and necessary administrative corrections.
Why it matters
This ruling sets a legal precedent for administrative fairness, ensuring that educational institutions must accommodate legal identity changes for their alumni.
Ask AI 2 min The High Court has ordered Unisa to issue a new LLB certificate to a graduate whose surname was legally changed.
The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has ordered the University of South Africa (Unisa) to issue a new LLB degree certificate to a graduate whose surname was legally changed .
Judge Nkosingiphile Mazibuko ruled that the institution acted irrationally by refusing to amend the certificate while simultaneously recognising the graduate's new identity in its own records.
Trevor Mthokozi Ka-Mthokozisi obtained his LLB from Unisa after studying between 2011 and 2017 before graduating in 2018. He legally changed his surname from Sibanda to Ka-Mthokozisi in December 2023.
Following the change, both Umalusi and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) updated their records to reflect his new surname.
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