The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court recently postponed the case against Nhlanhla Sizani, a 24-year-old individual, to allow him time to obtain legal representation.
Sizani is facing charges of fraud, alternative forgery, and uttering after allegedly submitting a fraudulent letter during the 2021 local government elections.
In a separate scandal, economist and former Remgro director Thabi Leoka has been accused of misrepresenting her qualifications. This blog post will delve into the details of these alleged fraud cases.
According to Colonel Katlego Mogale, Sizani appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on charges related to fraud and forgery. The allegations stem from Sizani’s submission of a fraudulent letter bearing the United Nations (UN) insignia.
The letter requested a South African Police Service (SAPS) escort to polling stations during the 2021 local government elections, with Sizani claiming to be a UN Ambassador/Diplomat.
Investigations conducted by the Hawks’ Crime Against the State within Serious Organised Crime Investigation revealed that Sizani was not an Ambassador/Diplomat, and the request for escort was not made by the United Nations. As a result of the misrepresentation, the SAPS suffered financial losses.
The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has postponed Sizani’s case to allow him time to secure legal representation. The accused will have the opportunity to present his defense on Tuesday, the new court date set for the proceedings.
Thabi Leoka’s Qualification Controversy
In a separate incident, economist Thabi Leoka has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding her qualifications. Leoka, who serves on several company boards, including Anglo American Platinum, has been accused of misrepresenting her academic credentials.
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A recent article in Business Day alleged that Leoka does not hold a PhD in Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE), as she has claimed. However, Leoka has vehemently denied these allegations, stating that she does indeed possess a PhD from the LSE, though she completed the program under a different name.
Leoka clarified that the discrepancy arose due to the use of her incomplete name, which prevented the school from verifying or confirming her qualifications. She further explained that she had changed her name with Home Affairs, contributing to the confusion surrounding her academic credentials.
