Intelligent man living a lie
‘PALLO Jordan’s phantom doctorate” (August 3) refers. These revelations suggest that Jordan has been living a life of lies. They also mean that all the privileges he got as a result of his assumed PhD were based on a false assumption.
But the fact is that the man is intelligent and could have just completed his credits and deserved his degree.
A few years ago, the Native Club, a public initiative based at the Africa Institute of South Africa, was launched in Pretoria. Professor Sipho Seepe was critical about the intentions of the club and wrote an article about it. The crux of his argument was that the conference risked sacrificing intellectual engagement for political correctness.
At that time, Jordan was minister of arts and culture. When taking the podium at the conference, Jordan started by dismissing an article written by a “self-proclaimed intellectual”. The former minister talked as though he was a super-intellectual and the likes of Seepe were emerging intellectuals who needed guidance.
If Jordan lied about his qualifications, what else did he lie about? What is the message that Jordan’s lies are sending to the youth of this country?
I think it does not inspire them at all to get educated. They can always get into politics, lie and get invited to the international conferences as doctors. I am disappointed. I wrote on many platforms referring to him as Dr Pallo Jordan. My apologies. — Noga Kobe, chairman of the Mapungubwe Reading Club, Limpopo
Surely not, Pallo
SAY it ain’t so, Pallo. — AK, by SMS
Top marks for his Marxism
IF Jordan, one of the brains of the ANC, is a fake graduate, he must apologise to ANC PhD holders and intellectuals whose minds have guided our struggle and policy formulation.
At our 100th anniversary, at the Mangaung conference and in Mahikeng, I was fortunate to be on the commission with Jordan. You are immediately attracted to him because of his razorsharp mind and deep understanding of Marxist dialectics and African history.
In debates, he could match Ruth First, Thabo Mbeki, Joel Netshitenzhe, Jack Simons, Kader Asmal and others, and emerge the victor. — Sibangani Mzobe, Soweto