Thabi Leoka
Thabi Leoka has resigned from the boards of Anglo American Platinum and MTN South Africa to attend to her health and fake qualifications saga. Image: Supplied

Home » Thabi Leoka: More twists in the PhD saga as old tweets resurface

Thabi Leoka: More twists in the PhD saga as old tweets resurface

More twists unfold in the Thabi Leoka PhD saga as X users dig up old tweets. The disgraced economist has since resigned from her positions.

By Gcina Ntsaluba
24-01-24 14:43
in Business and Finance
Thabi Leoka
Thabi Leoka has resigned from the boards of Anglo American Platinum and MTN South Africa to attend to her health and fake qualifications saga. Image: Supplied

Disgraced South African economist Thabi Leoka, who claims to have a PhD from the London School of Economics (LSE), is trending once again after social media users found her old tweets alluding to her non-existent doctorate.

Leoka was fired by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday from the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, following reports that she had resigned from the boards of Anglo American Platinum and MTN South Africa.

ALSO READ: Thabi Leoka quits board positions at Anglo American and MTN SA

THABI LEOKA: OLD PHD TWEETS RESURFACE: SOCIAL MEDIA GOES BANANAS

In one of her tweets which she posted on 8 April 2014, Leoka said: “I recall the surprise I got from my peers when I decided to move to the UK to do a PhD in economics when I was 24.” You can click on the link below to view the post.

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ALSO READ: Ramaphosa axes Thabi Leoka from his economic council

‘SHE’S BEEN LYING FOR OVER A DECADE’ – SOCIAL MEDIA USER

Social media users didn’t hold back from taking a swipe at Leoka’s ‘PhD’ charade, with some saying that she has been lying for over a decade.

“This woman though 10 years living a lie,” said one user by the name of @SirLebotha.

Kwena Molekwa posted: “World class holder…at 24 that’s when you decided to defraud us! Prof Thabi Leoka The Good Scam Story! You deserve Hollywood.”

Meanwhile, another social media user said Leoka only had herself to blame.

ALSO READ: Thabi Leoka to respond legally over “fake” PhD accusations

‘SHE WAS BUSY MARINATING US FROM AS FAR BACK AS 2014’

In another tweet posted on the same day, Leoka said that she was “also surprised by how few our academics have a doctorate or have published”.

“Who dug this up and put it back on to TL??? The internet really doesn’t forget nhe,” said @Penxenxe

“I don’t understand. She has 2 masters degrees and has written numerous articles in journals. So she’s definitely capable of conducting research. If she really wanted a PhD that much, why didn’t she just do it? She would’ve been long done with it,” said @tumii_v.

Another user by the name of @ms_tourist said: “She was busy marinating us from as far back as 2014. The key is believing your own lies I guess.”

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‘PLEASE CONSIDER APOLOGISING AND TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY’

“I suggest you deactivate and start a new account. Please consider apologising and taking accountability. We are a forgiving nation,” posted @zzbuhlesibeko.

Another user, @MaanoMadima posted Leoka’s board fees on X that she earned while serving on the boards of Remgro, Netcare and Anglo American Platinum. You can view the post below.

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