Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane says he will be seeking legal advice on a report that implicated him in an academic fraud scandal at the University of Fort Hare (UFH). Reports emerged on Monday that Mabuyane tried to fake his way to a PhD in Public Administration qualification, even though he had only a BCom degree. The report further accused Mabuyane of enlisting the help of ghostwriters and disgraced Professor Edwin Ijeoma to compile his master’s degree proposal for him.

NOT MEETING REQUIREMENTS 

It is alleged that Mabuyane did all this despite the fact that he only holds a BCom degree and did not meet the requirements to pursue a Master’s degree. According to the forensic report, Professor Ijeoma’s team of ghostwriters did most of the work. The report said the team also helped him prepare for his presentation to a panel of academics, adding that the evidence against him was too compelling to ignore. Ijeoma resigned from the university last year after being suspended over allegations of academic fraud.

SHOCKED BY THE REPORT

In a statement on Tuesday, Mabuyane spokesperson Zuko Godlimpi said the Premier had initially chosen not to respond to the issue in the media. He said he will only engage with law enforcement institutions, such as the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) which is investigating the matter. Mabuyane said that he still awaits his opportunity to have an audience with the authorities and exercise his right to reply. "The Premier was further surprised that there is a forensic report already available as indicated in the media, while he had not been approached for questioning by the law enforcement agency," Godlimpi said.

DEREGISTERED

The statement continued to say Mabuyane was admitted and registered at the university to study for his Master’s degree and he was further allocated his supervisor Professor Edwin Ijeoma, by the institution, until his suspension. "Issues around his research schedules, presentations, and feedback were handled by the two university administrators. After the suspension of Professor Ijeoma, Mabuyane was allocated a new supervisor, Professor Thakathi and he continued with his studies without any issues raised," Godlimpi added. In 2021, Mabuyane reportedly received a letter from the university stating he had been excluded and deregistered as a student of the institution, following a review conducted in respect of students who were supervised by Professor Ijeoma. "It is important to note that Mabuyane was never awarded a post-graduate qualification by UFH or any other institution of higher learning. Further to this, he has never applied or expressed an interest to pursue doctoral studies at the UFH. Considering the recent developments and continued attack on the the premier, he is of the view that this is a witch-hunt as he cannot be blamed for the weakness in the internal control systems of the university." Mabuyane has since instructed his legal advisors to consider these developments, including the forensic report with a view to taking the matter through the courts. The premier believes that such a platform will create an opportunity to share his side of the story and defend his reputation which is tainted by the allegations made in the media reports.

URGED TO COME CLEAN

In a statement on Monday, the DA’s Nqaba Bhanga said Mabuyane needs to come clean about the details surrounding his research proposal to obtain a master’s and his PhD as well as his relationship with disgraced professor Ijeoma. "Not only are the allegations extremely serious, but they also raise serious questions about the ethical conduct of the premier and, left unanswered, bring his term of leadership into serious dispute," Bhanga said, adding that hat Mabuyane is just one of many senior ANC public representatives implicated in this qualification scandal. "The premier is the first citizen of the province, and his conduct should be beyond reproach. Should these allegations prove true, one must ask what other duties he has outsourced during his term.