The University of South Africa (UNISA) has confirmed that Sarah-Jane Trent is a graduate of the institution after a statement circulating on social media falsely claimed she did not hold a degree from the university.

In a media statement released on Monday, Unisa said Trent obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the institution in May 2013.

The university also strongly distanced itself from a document that had been widely shared online and which purported to be from Unisa, denying that Trent had studied there.

According to the institution, the statement was fraudulent and appeared to misuse official university branding.

“Unisa once again distances itself from the statement circulated on social media purported to be from the institution which was denying that Ms Trent holds a degree from Unisa,” the university said.

The institution further condemned the manipulation of its official templates and logo, saying these materials had been used without authorisation to misrepresent its position on the matter.

Unisa indicated that its internal units would investigate the origins of the misleading statement and the abuse of the university’s resources. The institution said appropriate legal action could follow depending on the outcome of the investigation.

The clarification comes amid heightened public attention on Trent following her appearance before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations raised by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

The committee was established to examine claims made by Mkhwanazi regarding the alleged influence within South Africa’s criminal justice system.

During proceedings last week, an MP from the uMkhonto weSizwe Party questioned Trent about her professional background, specifically asking whether she was a lawyer.

Trent responded that she was indeed a lawyer and proceeded to outline her academic journey during her testimony before the committee.

She told MPs that she matriculated in 2002 before enrolling at Stellenbosch University in 2003 to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in marketing. However, she did not complete the programme.

The following year, she enrolled at Boland College in Stellenbosch, where she completed a 16-subject Merit Certificate in Marketing Management.

Trent explained that she later decided to change career paths.

“In 2006, I was in search of employment as I no longer wanted a career in marketing so I decided to further my studies,” she told the committee.

She said she enrolled at Unisa in 2007 to study towards a Bachelor of Laws degree.

According to her testimony, she completed the LLB qualification in November 2012 at National Qualifications Framework level eight and was formally awarded her degree on 13 May 2013.

Trent appeared before the parliamentary committee over two days, where she presented testimony about what she described as troubling patterns involving private individuals who have allegedly embedded themselves within elements of South Africa’s criminal justice system.

Her evidence forms part of the broader inquiry by MPs into allegations made by Mkhwanazi.

Unisa’s confirmation of Trent’s academic credentials comes as debate around her testimony and background continues to draw significant public attention.

The university emphasised that the circulation of false statements attributed to institutions undermines public trust and warned that those responsible for misusing its identity could face legal consequences.