Premier clarifies reasoning behind degree application

Premier Oscar Mabuyane said he knew he did not qualify outright to study for a master’s degree when he applied at the University of Fort Hare and submitted his CV to prove he had experience in public administration for assessment via the recognition of prior learning process.

The premier has briefed his legal team to challenge the university over allegations of academic fraud and to clear his name.

Mabuyane, who has a BCom in Economics degree, is accused of fraudulently submitting a research proposal for a master’s degree in public administration at the university, allegedly with the help of former faculty dean Prof Edwin Ijeoma.

News 24 reported this week that Mabuyane allegedly tried to fake his way into a doctoral degree in public administration.

The outlet cited a forensic report commissioned by Fort Hare, which concluded that Mabuyane’s master’s research proposal was “a sham” in that he was allegedly assisted by Ijeoma, a team of research assistants and ghost writers.

“It is a blatant lie that I wanted to apply for a PhD,” Mabuyane said.

Yesterday, his attorney, Ngqiqo Sakhela, said: “I can confirm we were briefed by the premier in the evening on Monday.

“In our consultation, we got instructions to challenge whatever the university is doing against him.”

Sakhela said the firm’s involvement in the matter started in 2021, when the university took a decision to deregister Mabuyane. “We wrote letters to the university requesting certain information [in relation to the decision to deregister Mabuyane].

“The letters we received from the attorneys of the university indicated they were still investigating.”

Sakhela said they were surprised by the media reports this week.

“What is bad about it is that Mr Mabuyane was never approached by the university for his side of the story.”

Mabuyane said he applied via the recognition of prior learning procedure when he initially submitted the application to Fort Hare in 2016.

“I submitted my CV and my junior degree. It was up to the university to reject or admit me.

“It’s a lie that I was admitted fraudulently.

“The university’s 2016 prospectus stated for one to apply for a master’s degree [in public administration], they needed to have done an honours degree or a four-year degree in public administration.

“I applied at the university knowing I did not meet the requirements, outrightly, for a master’s degree.

“The prospectus further stated that if someone has done a three-year degree like I did, with work experience, you may be considered. That’s exactly what I did,” he said.

University spokesperson JP Roodt said on Monday that “all internal and external investigation reports as well as physical, forensic and digital evidence was handed over to the SIU several weeks ago in relation to the [alleged] serious academic fraud that occurred in [the] department of public administration at the Bhisho campus involving public servants and Edwin Ijeoma”.