Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane may face a fresh probe by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) as President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the unit to investigate the awarding of degrees at the University of Fort Hare, vehicle and driver licensing, and three provincial health departments and two municipalities.
SIU TO PROBE AWARDING OF DEGREES AT FORT HARE
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said said President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed six new and two amended proclamations authorising the unit to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration in the affairs of Fort Hare University, the National and Provincial Departments of Transport, Limpopo Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Health, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Tlokwe Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Department of Health and Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Health.
As previously reported in 2023, a forensic investigation found that Oscar Mabuyane allegedly solicited the assistance of former University of Fort Hare Professor Edwin Ijeoma, his team of “research assistants”, and ghostwriters to help flesh out his Master’s proposal despite not meeting the requirements to pursue this qualification without honours.
According to the report, Mabuyane didn’t do more than just paraphrase and add bits of information to the Master’s proposal, as Ijeoma and his team did most of the work. The team also reportedly helped him prepare for his presentation to a panel of academics.
The Eastern Cape premier is not the only one implicated in the Fort Hare scandal; former Public Service and Administration Minister Noxolo Kiviet and Buffalo City mayor Princess Faku’s name also came up in the probe.
DO YOU THINK POLITICAL LEADERS WHO ALLEGEDLY RECEIVED FRAUDULENT DEGREES FROM FORT HARE WILL STEP DOWN?
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