Med student on fraud rap
IVAAZ Manisunker had progressed to his fourth year of medical studies even though the Durban man had allegedly doctored his matric results.
But the 24-year-old Wingen Heights Secondary School matriculant, who is Indian, had also allegedly passed himself off as coloured to gain a coveted spot at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine.
Manisunker appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court recently on a charge of fraud and was released on warning to appear again.
POST has established that Manisunker, who matriculated in 2009, had matric scores well below the 90%-plus required to meet the medical school’s stringent criteria of Indian applicants. The State alleged that the matric certificate he submitted was doctored.
The woes of the former Malvern resident, who is now living in Westville with his mother, have worsened, as the university intends summoning him for a disciplinary hearing.
Lesiba Seshoka, the university’s executive director, Corporate Relations said the institution viewed the fraud allegations in a serious light. She said while the State had charged Manisunker, the university’s investigations had not been completed.
Natasha Ramkisoon Kara, spokeswoman for the National Prosecuting Authority in KwaZulu-Natal, confirmed that Manisunker was a fourth-year medical student at the Nelson R School of Medicine.
Manisunker’s bid to keep his name out of the public domain failed in court at his first appearance. The court ruled that since the State had wrapped up its investigations, his identity could not be protected.
If found guilty, Manisunker risks losing all his study fees, estimated at half a million rand, and being thrown out by the school. He may not be allowed to study at any university in South Africa or abroad.
Manisunker was ordered to appear in court again on August 15. OPPOSITION political parties say it is wrong to admit firstyear students at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine according to their race.
They were reacting to the announcement by the ANC that the ruling party intends meeting with officials from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, which runs the school, to address its controversial quota system.
DA KZN leader Zwakele Mncwango said it was unfair to admit students according to their skin colour. “Students ought to be accepted in their first year of studies at the medical school on the strength of their matric results alone. It is unfair to punish applicants because of their race,” he said.
“God created people. Why should applicants be punished because of their race?’’ Mncwango said the system would only be effective if it was open to all.
The Minorities of SA’s KZN leader, Narendh Ganesh, said the time was ripe for the racial quota policy to be overhauled.
“Any policy that relegates merit creates a problem in terms of academic performance. We compete globally and the quality of graduates must be of a very high standard,” said Ganesh.
He said race should not be a factor to study medicine. “I won’t shut up on a matter that prejudices Indians. The quota system makes the idea of merit a mockery.”
IFP Chief Whip Narend Singh said the IFP had raised the matter in Parliament before. “We also raised the issue with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Certain groups are not catered for adequately by the quota policy,’’ said Singh.
‘’The policy goes against the grain of equal opportunities for all. The country needs more doctors. It is not right that our students have to study aboard because they cannot secure seats locally.”
The Democratic Liberal Congress’s leader Patrick Pillay said the current policy had “hurt many people over the years”. “Indian matriculants who obtained excellent marks are denied the opportunity to study medicine. It is discriminatory and terrible. It has been going on for more than 21 years and nothing good has come of it.”