The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) calls for the immediate resignation of the ANC- deployed Mayor of the Buffalo City Metropolitan in Eastern Cape, Mayor Princess Faku, following revelations that she fraudulently registered herself at the University of Fort Hare.
Following ongoing investigations by the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) that she did not meet the requirements to enrol in the LLB course, Faku joins ANC Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, former ANC Premier and Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature and former Public Service and Administration Minister Noxolo Kiviet, and current ANC-aligned National Chairperson of the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO), Mike Basopu, as leaders of the ANC who are being probed for fraudulently obtaining qualifications at Fort Hare.
In a context where millions of young people seek to pursue higher education after matriculating, and are often denied entry due to limited access and space in universities, it is disgraceful that ANC politicians in the Eastern Cape see it fit to use their political and financial influence to undermine the merit based system that underpins access to University.
There are worthy young people who were denied access at Fort Hare, due to Princess Faku and all ANC politicians who manipulate their way into institutions of higher learning, so that they can meet internal political party education criteria in order to be deployed to office. Further to this, the credibility of Fort Hare is harmed by ANC politicians who bring the corruption they practice in governance into the corridors of education.
Princess Faku and all those who are implicated in degree-fraud must immediately resign and be held responsible for undermining education, denying young people a fair chance, and stealing their university spots compromising their futures. We also call on the SIU to promptly release all findings in this matter so prosecution can effectively follow.
The EFF has been involved in various campaigns to mobilize voters ahead of elections.
What is Fraud? “Fraud” is any activity that relies on deception in order to achieve a gain. Fraud becomes a crime when it is a “knowing misrepresentation of the truth or concealment of a material fact to induce another to act to his or her detriment” (Black’s Law Dictionary). In other words, if you lie in order to deprive a person or organization of their money or property, you’re committing fraud.