Former speaker Sizwe Kupelo arrested for alleged ‘fake’ matric certificate

by Limpho Nonkonyane

Department of Health’s former spokesperson in Eastern Cape, Sizwe Kupelo was arrested for allegedly using a fake matric certificate to qualify for his job.

According to IOL, Sizwe was arrested for fraud, forgery and uttering, and was released on a R30,000 bail. Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, the province’s Hawks spokesperson states that the former spokesperson applied for the communications officer position in 2002. He was then selected and later named the Department of Health’s Deputy director of communication.

The above-mentioned source states that in 2020 an audit to check employees’ qualifications and skills was done by the department where it was discovered that Sizwe never completed matric.

Speaking to TimeLIVE, Mkhululi Ndamase, Health MEC Nomakhosazana’s spokesperson said, “The department welcomes any move that promotes good and clean governance. However, because this is now a criminal matter handled by the Hawks, the department cannot and will not comment further.”

It has also been reported by the news publication that Sizwe has an honorary doctorate from a bogus college Trinity International Bible University, an institution that the minister of higher education doesn’t recognise as it’s not registered as an institution of higher learning.

This bogus college has made headlines for giving out unauthorised degrees with Sello Maake KaNcube being one of the recent graduates.

Although the case was postponed to early next week, Magistrate Nompakamiso Mlomnyeni told TimesLIVE that, “Bail was granted on condition that he does not interfere with the four state witnesses.”

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