The University of KwaZulu-Natal has called on the Hawks to investigate allegations of corruption at its Nelson Mandela School of Medicine. The Mercury reports that this is according to UKZN vice-chancellor Dr Albert van Jaarsveld, who said that a forensic investigation, which had been completed, had identified serious issues which required investigation by the police.
The medical school has in the past faced claims that people were buying their places and that some had even gained entry to study at the institution with fraudulent Grade 12 certificates.
The report says places at the medical school are highly sought after as it has limited space. There is also a racial quota in place that complicates the applications process, as only a certain number of students, based on their race, can be accepted at the medical school. The quota allows for 69% black African, 19% Indian, 9% coloured, 2% white and 1% other. Places are reserved for those pupils from Quintile 1, 2 and 3 schools, which are poorer schools in the system.
The report says the quota was implemented to address the imbalances of the past by reserving more places for black students.
Van Jaarsveld said that they would be cleaning house once the investigation was completed. “We will get to the bottom of this. It looks like there are a lot of people who are involved. KPMG has completed the forensic investigation and they highlighted a number of issues. Our internal unit is conducting further investigations and the Hawks have been informed about the matter,” said Van Jaarsveld.
Last year it was reported that a fourth-year student, Rivaaz Manisunker, allegedly faked his matric results to get into the university. He was arrested and charged with fraud. The charges were dropped, according to reports, because a whistle-blower withdrew the allegations and UKZN had not joined as a complainant in the matter.
The report says it was also reported in June that the university had confirmed it was investigating a syndicate that could be selling sought-after places at the medical school. The syndicate, it said, involved high-ranking academics and administration staff. Among the allegations reported at the time was that there were Indian students who had colluded with others, for a sum, to identify themselves as coloureds in order to gain entry to the medical school.
[link url="http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/ukzn-calls-for-hawks-probe-at-medical-school-7591151"]The Mercury report[/link]