University of KwaZulu- Natal (UKZN)
The investigation has resulted in a search and seizure operation involving 286 staff members. The operation is being undertaken with the assistance of an external forensic audit company. The aim of the operation is to gather further evidence, investigate and determine the full extent of staff involvement. University Management initiated this investigation, which led to uncovering the syndicate. This investigation was critical to ensure all people implicated face the law. To date, five students have been implicated in the UKZN admissions scam.
North-West University (NWU)
Eleven academics, some of whom hold professorships and doctorates, are under investigation for plagiarising the work of other academics and organisations in their research articles at NWU. These academics have been reported to the Council on Higher Education (CHE). Most of them were involved in work in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, based at NWU’s Mafikeng and Potchefstroom campuses. The most senior academic accused occupies a senior management position at the Mafikeng campus.
A whistle-blower close to the student body reported the matter to the CHE and The Department of Higher Education and Training.
An example of the alleged plagiarised work is from an employers’ handbook on managing HIV/Aids in the workplace published in 2003 by the Thailand Business Coalition, Employers’ Confederation of Thailand and the International Labour Office.
CHE CEO Professor Narend Baijnath confirmed that the allegations were reported to the council.
NWU spokesperson Louis Jacobs said the university was informed of the matter by the CHE and that the investigation was at an advanced stage. He also said NWU would not release particulars on the staff members involved or comment on whether action had been taken against the academics implicated.
University of the Witswatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand’s vice-chancellor and Politics professor, Adam Habib, wrote an open letter to the members of Parliament, titled ‘History Will Judge You’. Habib states that the members of Parliament need to “rise to the occasion” with regard to the “no confidence vote”, shown by the repetition of the line “the future of this beloved country lies in your vote!”, urging members of Parliament to vote wisely.
University of Cape Town (UCT)
Medical student, Safa Naraghi, Engineering graduate Teddy Mudge and Law graduate, Tshepo Mosaka have earned scholarships from FirstRand to attend prestigious UK universities for the next academic year. Mudge received one of two FirstRand Laurie Dippenaar scholarships, worth R800 000 each. Mosaka and Naraghi each received one of three FirstRand Foundation scholarships, also individually worth R800 000.
Compiled by Danica Charles
