Economist Thabi Leoka’s membership in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) has been officially terminated. This decision comes after allegations surfaced regarding Leoka’s qualifications, casting doubt on her credibility. On January 22, the presidency communicated the immediate termination of her membership.
Last week, Leoka, a former non-executive director at Remgro, made headlines for allegedly misrepresenting her qualifications, specifically her claim of holding a PhD in economics from the prestigious London School of Economics (LSE).
Following these allegations, Leoka resigned from her positions on the boards of Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and MTN SA, citing health reasons and the need to address questions about her qualifications.
[ Economist Thabi Leoka Resigns From MTN Amid Qualification Questions ]
The presidency had requested Leoka to address the matter of her qualifications expeditiously in the interest of transparency. However, it appears that the allegations were not satisfactorily resolved, leading to the termination of her membership in the PEAC.
It is worth noting that the PEAC does not require formal vetting of its members. The council is a non-statutory body comprised of 19 individuals who volunteer their time and are not employed or remunerated by the presidency.
Nevertheless, the controversy surrounding Leoka’s qualifications has sparked calls for more robust vetting processes to prevent instances of fake degree scandals. Before the qualifications scandal, Thabi Leoka was highly regarded as one of South Africa’s leading economists.
She was appointed to the PEAC by President Ramaphosa in 2019 and also served on the commission of inquiry into the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) in the same year. Additionally, she was tasked by the Ministry of Finance to review zero-rated products to support vulnerable individuals in the country following a VAT increase.
Since the allegations emerged, Leoka has staunchly defended her claim of holding a PhD from LSE. However, the university has stated that it has no record of her being awarded a doctorate.
Leoka argues that the lack of records may be due to her change of first name from “Bathabile” to “Thabi.” She suggests that using her current first name in requests to LSE may not have yielded results.
The implications for Leoka, should the allegations prove to be true, are significant. She provided expert testimony before the Heher Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training in 2017.
This commission was established by former President Jacob Zuma following the 2015 protests regarding university fees.
The controversy surrounding Thabi Leoka’s qualifications raises important questions about the integrity of individuals in positions of influence and the need for thorough vetting processes.
As the story continues to unfold, it serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and credibility in the field of economics and beyond.
Catch up with the latest news from The Times Post on WhatsApp by following our channel. Click here to join.
