‘Dr Fake’ six year-long lie

EDUCATION Minister Naledi Pandor has expressed shock over reports that Walter Sisulu University council chairperson Somadoda Fikeni lied about having a doctorate – and was then reinstated to the governing body.

Speaking for the first time since the Daily Dispatch uncovered Fikeni’s six year-long lie that he held a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the Michigan State University in the US, Pandor said she needed to get the facts from the university before commenting.

But if true, Pandor said yesterday, the reports would be a blot on the university’s leadership.

The lie – first exposed in March – showed how the respected political commentator had been passing himself off as a doctor since 2002, even though he did not have a PhD from Michigan State as he claimed.

In the article he admitted lying about his qualifications.

The degree was conferred on Fikeni only last week – six years after he first laid claim to it.

A week after the exposé, Fikeni stepped down as the council chairperson but has since been reinstated. This has, however, divided the council.

Pandor’s comments come just days after the university’s spokesperson Karuna Krishanlal-Gopal died from a brain haemorrhage at a Mthatha hospital at the weekend.

Yesterday it emerged that the university management had tried to blame her for leaking the information about Fikeni to the Dispatch.

It also follows reports that Fikeni’s deceit had led to the resignation of fellow council member Dr Maria Xaba-Mokoena, who had been appointed to the position by the Education Minister.

Pandor was also shocked to learn of the resignation of Xaba-Mokoena, a distinguished medical specialist and founding dean of the medical faculty of the former University of Transkei.

“I am very concerned at the loss of Dr Xaba-Mokoena as her skills and background surely added value to the university and its academic programme.”

Pandor said she regarded membership of a university council as high office, which demanded standards of integrity that were exemplary.

“I will comment once I have spoken to the vice-chancellor. If the allegation of lies is true, that will be a blot on the council and its leadership. Council is the highest organ of governance and its reputation must conform to that status. I repeat, however, that I need to get all the facts related to this matter.”

She would also not comment on Fikeni’s reinstatement as council chairman, except to say: “Any council must have leadership and membership that is deserving of this high and honourable office. Universities face national and international scrutiny and have to have good reputations.”

This week, details emerged of a PricewaterhouseCoopers-led investigation into who had leaked the information about Fikeni’s bogus doctorate to the press. The investigation was commissioned by the council, through Fikeni.

At least four staffers close to the investigation referred to it as a “witch hunt to cover-up the ‘Dr Fake’ scandal”.

The investigators interviewed staff members, including those in the marketing and communications department. Their telephone records were checked and computers scanned without their knowledge, they said.

Krishanlal-Gopal’s hard drive was removed from her office while she was on leave.

Staff found the investigation “peculiar” as nobody had been formally informed of the procedure.

The Dispatch this week obtained council minutes from WSU, which show that Fikeni’s reinstatement was met with “concern by some council members”.

The minutes state that when the matter had been referred to the convocation, “Somadoda Fikeni did not have a doctorate and had not been in possession of a doctorate for six years”.

Xaba-Mokoena and another councillor, known only as Mrs L Majova, disassociated themselves from the council’s decision. Xaba-Mokoena walked out of the meeting and later tendered her resignation from the council.

She then wrote to Pandor informing the minister of her resignation.

Vice-chancellor Marcus Balintulo said he could not comment on the minister’s statements as he was driving.