Thabi Leoka and Pravin Gordhan, picture on 28 October 2016. Her ‘PhD’ saga has another twist. Image: @thabileoka via X
Another twist in Thabi Leoka’s ‘PhD’ saga as X users unearth old posts
Inquisitive X (formerly known as Twitter) users have unearthed old posts alluding to economist Thabi Leoka’s ‘PhD’.
Thabi Leoka and Pravin Gordhan, picture on 28 October 2016. Her ‘PhD’ saga has another twist. Image: @thabileoka via X
Disgraced South African economist Thabi Leoka, who claims to have a PhD from the London School of Economics (LSE), is trending once again after social media users found her old tweets alluding to her non-existent doctorate.
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Leoka was fired by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday from the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, following reports that she had resigned from the boards of Anglo American Platinum and MTN South Africa.
ALSO READ: Thabi Leoka quits board positions at Anglo American and MTN SA
THABI LEOKA’S PHD TWEETS RESURFACE: SOCIAL MEDIA GOES BANANAS
In one of her tweets which she posted on 8 April 2014, Leoka said: “I recall the surprise I got from my peers when I decided to move to the UK to do a PhD in economics when I was 24.” You can click on the link below to view the post.
http://t.co/B4LfEFn5bo I recall the surprise I got from my peers when I decided to move to the UK to do a PhD in economics when I was 24.
— Thabi Leoka (@thabileoka) April 8, 2014
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‘SHE’S BEEN LYING FOR OVER A DECADE’ – SOCIAL MEDIA USER
Social media users didn’t hold back from taking a swipe at Leoka’s ‘PhD’ charade, with some saying that she has been lying for over a decade.
“This woman though 10 years living a lie,” said one user by the name of @SirLebotha.
Kwena Molekwa posted: “World class holder…at 24 that’s when you decided to defraud us! Prof Thabi Leoka The Good Scam Story! You deserve Hollywood.”
Meanwhile, another social media user said Leoka only had herself to blame.
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‘SHE WAS BUSY MARINATING US FROM AS FAR BACK AS 2014’
In another tweet posted on the same day, Leoka said that she was “also surprised by how few our academics have a doctorate or have published”.
Also surprised by how few our academics have a doctorate or have published.
— Thabi Leoka (@thabileoka) April 8, 2014
“Who dug this up and put it back on to TL??? The internet really doesn’t forget nhe,” said @Penxenxe
“I don’t understand. She has 2 masters degrees and has written numerous articles in journals. So she’s definitely capable of conducting research. If she really wanted a PhD that much, why didn’t she just do it? She would’ve been long done with it,” said @tumii_v.
Another user by the name of @ms_tourist said: “She was busy marinating us from as far back as 2014. The key is believing your own lies I guess.”
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‘PLEASE CONSIDER APOLOGISING AND TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY’
“I suggest you deactivate and start a new account. Please consider apologising and taking accountability. We are a forgiving nation,” posted @zzbuhlesibeko.
Another user, @MaanoMadima posted Leoka’s board fees on X that she earned while serving on the boards of Remgro, Netcare and Anglo American Platinum. You can view the post below.
Director fees Thabi Leoka received recently:
— Madima (@MaanoMadima) January 22, 2024
Remgro Ltd: R103k* (FY23)
Netcare: R582k (FY22) and R809k (FY23)^
Anglo American Platinum Ltd: R1 036 880 (FY22) and R948 342 (FY21)
*appointed 22 Mar 2023, year end was 30 Jun 2023.
^resigned 8 Mar 2023. Appointed 1 Jan 2022 pic.twitter.com/eZY296nu1i
