Matric cheats were following example set by their elders
WITH role models such as ours, is it any wonder that our matric class of 2014 has brought with it an unprecedented cheating scandal implicating pupils, teachers and principals in a bid to game the education system? Last year, an astounding series of revelations laid bare the fact that several high-profile South Africans — some of whom had built impressive reputations — had been lying for years about their qualifications.
Top of the list was Pallo Jordan, a man often described as one of the intellectual giants of the ANC, with a considerable pedigree and much political clout.
But, to the surprise of many, and after years of covering up the truth, Jordan was outed by this newspaper as being no “doctor” at all, despite his claim to that title for many years.
Of considerably lesser stature was Ellen Tshabalala, who was picked from nowhere to be chairwoman of the SABC before being revealed as a fraud. Tshabalala’s claimed BCom from Unisa was more like a pipe dream from nowhere.
Over at SAA, it turned out that acting CEO Nico Bezuidenhout did not have the MBA or other qualifications that the airline’s glossy annual reports said he did.
There are plenty of other cases of people in leadership positions who have taken a similar gamble. When people with their hands on the levers of our economy set such a torrid example, it’s no surprise that matrics battling for any incremental advantage in an increasingly desperate war for jobs adopt similar tactics.
As you’ll read in this newspaper today, these matric cheats will now have their lives ruined or badly derailed.
It is hoped that those who persuaded them that they would get away with it — the teachers, principals and invigilators who greased the wheels of this particular con — are jailed.
Speaking at the announcement of the matric results this week, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga stressed that to improve performance, “enhanced accountability at all levels of the system” was needed, along with a greater focus on the basic functioning of schools.
It did not help her case that she spoke on the same platform as SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, who lied about having a matric and has refused to be accountable for that. This matric scandal will linger for months, devastating many families. But South Africa’s leaders should acknowledge their role in creating this monster — and the role that they can play in setting a proper example for the next generation.