Ramaphosa announces completion of Fort Hare academic fraud investigation by 2025/26

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is expected to finalise its investigations into Honours and Masters degree qualifications at the University of Fort Hare before the end of the 2025/26 financial year.

“I am informed that the SIU investigation into academic qualifications relating to the award of the Honours degrees in Public Administration has been finalised. The investigation with respect to the award of the Masters and PhD degrees in Public Administration is ongoing,” Ramaphosa said.

“I am informed that the investigation into these academic qualifications is envisaged to be finalised in the third and fourth quarters of this current financial year, respectively.” 

Ramaphosa said the report naming the implicated persons in academic fraud is being finalised and will be submitted to him in due course.

He was responding to parliamentary questions from ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip, who asked about the current status of the SIU investigation into the University of Fort Hare academic fraud.

Trollip also asked whether Ramaphosa was informed of legal proceedings by Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane challenging the proclamation authorising the SIU to investigate matters at the university and seeking to exclude him from parts of that probe.

This happened after the Bhisho High Court found in October that the conduct of the SIU in its investigation of Mabuyane was an abuse and unconstitutional.

“The SIU’s decision to embark on an investigation against the applicant is declared ultra vires the terms of the proclamation and is reviewed and set aside.”

Trollip also wanted to know whether the Presidency and the SIU have taken any steps to amend the proclamation or issue a new proclamation to close any legal loopholes and ensure the investigation may proceed unimpeded.

In his response, Ramaphosa said Mabuyane brought an application on May 31, 2023, for an interdict against the SIU from investigating him under the proclamation issued in 2022.

He said a judgment was granted in respect of the matter on June 20, 2023, that the SIU had no mandate to investigate the Masters degrees.

“As the party to these proceedings, the president was aware of the challenge to the SIU mandate as stated in the proclamation.”

Ramaphosa also said the Presidency amended the proclamation issued in 2022 with another that was published on October 4, 2024, with a view to closing any loopholes that may have been inherent in the original proclamation.

The SIU previously said it requested an amendment to the proclamation to extend its scope.

“The amendment authorises the SIU to investigate, among other issues, the university’s registration or admission of ineligible persons to enrol for, study at, or be awarded degrees, including Bachelor’s degrees, Honours degrees, Masters degrees, and PhD degrees, or actions contrary to manuals, policies, procedures, prescripts, instructions, or practices of the university.

“This includes individuals without the required degrees or matriculation results who were admitted or awarded degrees inconsistently with university standards.”

Asked about steps taken to ensure that no political interference or procedural vacillation will impede the finalisation, publication and implementation of the SIU findings, Ramaphosa said: “I am further informed that SIU has not experienced any political interference and/or procedural vacillation that may have impeded the finalisation, publication, and implementation of the SIU findings.”

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za