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The Prime Minister of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane.
Masi Losi / The Times / Gallo Images / Getty Images
- Oscar Mabuyane denied reports that he had been dropped from the University of Fort Hare’s master’s program.
- The university confirmed that it had dropped two students, but declined to name names.
- A university source said Mabuyane’s name was mentioned multiple times in meetings related to the deregistration.
“I am a student at that university, legally admitted and registered by that university. I have never applied to any individual there.”
This was the response of Eastern Cape Prime Minister Oscar Mabuyane when asked to respond to reports that the University of Fort Hare (UFH) had dropped him from the master’s program for failing to meet the minimum requirements.
When pressed for detailed questions, Mabuyane said, “Ask UFH.”
HeraldLive reported Thursday that Mabuyane’s alleged deregistration was related to the scandal involving former Fort Hare public sector economics professor Edwin Okey Chikata Ijeoma, who recently had his citizenship revoked. He is originally from Nigeria.
Ijeoma had been suspended after allegations that he had wrongly registered Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba to obtain a degree in public administration.
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When asked if it had dropped Mabuyane, the Eastern Cape-based university only confirmed that it had dropped two students.
“The University of Fort Hare (UFH) recently launched an investigation into allegations of irregular admission and registration of two students supervised by Professor Edwin Ijeoma, who resigned from his post and from the university’s employment.”
The university said that, at its Senate session on March 12 this year, the faculty of business and administration presented a recommendation stemming from a review they had conducted regarding two students supervised by Ijeoma prior to his resignation.
The recommendation was deliberate and approved by the Senate to exclude and withdraw two students from its programs, for failing to meet the minimum admission requirements for the degree, including the rules of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy of UFH, said the university.
“The Secretary of the Senate wrote to inform the two students of the Senate decision on March 15, 2021. The two students can reapply for the respective programs once they demonstrate that they meet the minimum requirements,” the university said. .
The UFH declined to name the two students, in accordance with its “relevant policies.”
However, a university source said Mabuyane’s name was mentioned multiple times in high-level meetings in connection with the deregistration.
In October, The Sunday Times reported that Gomba was allowed to register for three academic years, despite failing to meet the criteria for a graduate degree, as he did not possess a college degree.
Mabuyane has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Fort Hare.
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