SOUTH AFRICA'S CULTURE OF DISHONESTY - FAKE CREDENTIALS

Media reported on a fake degree scam orchestrated by an employee at the University of Zululand. At the request of a former student the public protector will investigate,which begs the question: why the public protector and not law enforcement? South Africa is notorious for its culture of dishonesty - fraudulent qualification and falsified professional resumes. This will continue unabated if perpetrators simply receive a slap on the hand, if at all. A lengthy prison term as a deterrent is an appropriate and long overdue solution. If the likes of Ellen Tshabalala, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, Mohau Pheko, and others had been criminally prosecuted, it would have served as a deterrent to those contemplating academic fraud. The practice of issuing get out of jail free cards by tolerating academic fraud does irreparable harm to the country's reputation and the credibility of its institutions. Government promised to deal with fraudulent qualifications more than a year ago. One more of a laundry list of unfulfilled promises which do not solve the country's problems, inasmuch as actions do.