Shamim "Chippy" Shaik was one of many students whose degrees and Phds had been withdrawn because of plagiarism, the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) said on Monday.

University's spokesman Dr Dasarath Chetty told Sapa that due to the possibility that the Shaik matter may end up in court, the university did not wish to comment on it *1.

He, however, said several students and former students had been stripped of their degrees after being caught out for plagiarism.

"We do have a plagiarism policy here," he said.

Shaik was stripped of his doctorate by UKZN but his brother Yunis Shaik on Sunday said it was without reason.

In a statement released on Sunday, for and on behalf of Chippy Shaik, Yunis Shaik said: "The Senate passed a resolution on the 28th February to withdraw the degree awarded to Dr Shamim Shaik.

"To date no reasons and the evidence in support thereof have been given for this decision."

Last year, media reported that "more than two-thirds" of Shaik's 2003 PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the then-University of Natal had been plagiarised and an inquiry had been set up.

Shaik has repeatedly denied any allegations of plagiarism.

With acknowledgements to Sapa.