Hawks probe Unizulu degrees-for-cash scandal
Early investigation reveals at least 4 000 students may have paid to have marks altered since 1996
THE Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks, on Friday confirmed it was investigating the degrees-for-sale scam at the University of Zululand.
While the exact scope of the fraud is still to be determined, preliminary investigations paints a shocking picture of possibly 4 000 students having earned degrees through payment or even sexual favours to have marks altered since the first degrees-for-sale scandals rocked the university in 1996 and again in 2008.
So far, two university employees, a Protective Services Department investigator and an examinations official, have been suspended after at least three cases of job applicants holding fraudulent degrees were brought to the attention of the university.
While Captain Louis Helberg of the Commercial Crimes Unit based in Durban on Friday could not confirm specific details, he did confirm he is investigating the current accusations at the request of the university.
The Zululand Observer can reveal, however, that there are more than two people on his radar.
‘I am investigating a case of fraud, corruption, defeating the ends of justice and extortion,’ Helberg said.
‘But I cannot confirm more than that. We are in the very early stages of the investigation, so we cannot confirm the scope of the scamyet.
But I am keeping an open mind.’
It is believed current allegations stem directly from a similar investigation in 2008, also probed by the Hawks.
Previous convictions
Former student tutor Lucky Khanyile last week admitted he had doctored the results of more than 1 000 students who had failed in 2007 and 2008.
ALSO READ: Unizulu degrees-for-sale scam stretches back to 2008 – report
His fee was between R500 and R5000 per module, depending on what the students could afford or how desperate they were.
Khanyile and Bongekile Manqele, a fellow student tutor, were convicted of fraud by the Durban Commercial Crimes Court on 26 February 2014.
They received a five year suspended sentence, a fine, 16 hours community service and six months’ house arrest.
‘It was wrong what we did, even though we were helping struggling students pass,’ he said.
‘Now I am unemployed with a criminal record for my role, while those I helped have posh jobs.’
Thulani Zikhali, who graduated from the University of Zululand this year and was a state witness against Khanyile and Manqele, said the scam remained intact.
During this investigation at least 800 students were in some way implicated.
A letter to the Public Protector Thuli Madonsela leaked to the media alleged that only half of the students found to have been involved in 2008 were made to rewrite the modules, while others were not.
The Zululand Observer was as of Friday in possession of at least ten names out of at least 800 students believed by police to have paid to have their results doctored in 2007.
Deputy Vice Chancellor: Institutional Support, Professor Neil Garrod on Saturday said in a statement that some of the officials alleged to have bought their degree ‘did not graduate from our university’.
‘Any false document they may have would have been generated outside the university system.
‘The university is adamant that it will investigate all allegations and request anyone to call the whistle-blowers fraud line,’ Garrod said.
He added that the ‘matter is sub judice and cannot be commented on at this stage.’
He added that preliminary investigation indicates that the university system is intact and that any university could face a degree-for-sale problem.
‘It is, therefore, denied that it is easy to buy a degree from the University of Zululand, however, the university cannot control fake documents generated outside its system,’ he explained.
Public Protector spokesperson Oupa Segalwe confirmed last week that Madonsela is still considering the request to investigate the scandal.
The scam is believed to be one of many issues that sparked violent student riots on Thursday and Friday at both the Richards Bay and KwaDlangezwa campuses.
Meanwhile, some of the current and former students are threatening on social media to name and shame some of the people they know bought their degrees from the university.
Email your tip-offs to kyle@zob.co.za
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