Thabi Leoka quits board positions at Anglo American and MTN SA
Economist Thabi Leoka, who was exposed for allegedly not holding a PhD in economics from a top UK university,
Controversial economist Thabi Leoka, who was exposed for allegedly not holding a PhD in economics from a top UK university, has quit her position on both the Anglo American Platinum and MTN SA boards.
The Daily Maverick reported that Leoka had resigned to attend to her health and the questions surrounding her academic qualifications.
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“On her request, Thabi Leoka has resigned from her position as a non-executive director of the company [Anglo American Platinum] and consequently the board committees she serves on, with immediate effect, in order to attend to her health and the questions she has been facing in relation to her academic qualifications,” according to Amplats company statement to shareholders.
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MTN ACCEPTS THABI LEOKA’S RESIGNATION
MTN SA said it had accepted Leoka’s resignation on Monday, effective immediately.
“Leoka joined the board of the MTN Group subsidiary in 2019. She resigned to attend to her health and the questions she has been facing concerning her academic qualifications,” a company statement said.
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TESTIFIED UNDER OATH AT #FEESMUSTFALL COMMISSION
Leoka, who has been exposed for allegedly not holding a PHD in economics from the London School of Economics (LSE) as she claims, previously testified under oath before the Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training that she had a PhD from the institution.
She provided expert testimony on 6 February 2017, in Pretoria, before the commission founded by former President Jacob Zuma after the #FeesMustFall protests that roiled South African university campuses in 2015.
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A CRIMINAL OFFENCE TO LIE ABOUT QUALIFICATION
Under the National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act 12 of 2019, it is a criminal offence to knowingly provide “false or misleading information” about your qualifications, carrying a sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment.
In a statement last Thursday, private healthcare group Netcare admitted it failed to adequately verify Leoka’s claimed PhD qualification before appointing her to its board in January 2022.