Fort Hare

The University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape
Image via: @ufh1916 / Twitter

DA wants ANC reps with Fort Hare qualifications to be investigated

ANC representatives including Premier Oscar Mabuyane were implicated in an investigation on fraudulent qualifications at Fort Hare.

Fort Hare

The University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape
Image via: @ufh1916 / Twitter

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on the African National Congress (ANC) to conduct an internal audit of all its public representatives with degrees obtained from the University of Fort Hare since 2013.

This comes as a recent oversight conducted at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape revealed the level of political interference by the ANC in the faculty of Public Administration at the Bisho campus.

DA WANTS ANC MEMBERS WITH FORT HARE QUALIFICATIONS INVESTIGATED

The DA said given the number of senior ANC members that are allegedly embroiled in the qualifications scandal at the University, including Public Service and Administration Minister Noxolo Kiviet, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, and now Buffalo City mayor Princess Faku, it is clearer than ever that the ANC as a party has a deep-rooted culture of corruption. 

According to News24 a forensic investigation found 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. 

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Fort Hare ANC
Eastern Cape Premier and ANC Chairperson. Image via: Facebook/ Oscar Mabuyane

DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education Chantel King said this together with cadre deployment are the reasons dysfunctional State institutions are crippling the economy.

King said the infiltration of the ANC politicians at institutions of higher learning is a blatant disregard for meaningful transformation in the sector as well as disregarding the sacrifices made daily by students who want to better their lives through education and break the cycle of poverty.

“The DA patiently awaits the conclusion of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation. In the meantime, President Cyril Ramaphosa must suspend Minister Kiviet until the conclusion of the SIU investigation. We will not allow the capturing of higher learning institutions by the ANC as was done with state capture of this country.” King said. 

ALSO READ: ‘The SIU will nab big people’: Fort Hare VC speaks out following assassination attempt

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