Another sex-for-marks scandal at University of Zululand

New allegations of sex-for-marks have surfaced at the University of Zululand‚ with a second lecturer in as many weeks being accused of having sexual relations with a student.

The Sunday Times reported two weeks ago that lecturer Samuel Olivier was accused of being involved in the scandal.

UniZulu vice-chancellor Xoliswa Mtose on Wednesday morning confirmed that the lecturer had booked off sick since the story broke‚ and that a formal investigation into the claims was being launched.

• Masters in the art of extorting sex from studentsThe University of Zululand has launched a probe into claims that students are having sex with lecturers in exchange for better marks. 

In the wake of the allegations‚ a meeting was held with students at the university‚ about two hours north of Durban‚ asking them to come forward with information - this time about a different lecturer.

“Thus far‚ only one student was brave enough to come forward. She felt it important enough to come and see me directly. We are busy investigating‚” said Mtose.

She confirmed a similar allegation was made against another lecturer last year in addition to these two latest claims. This‚ she said‚ was a worrying situation.

“It seems as if what happened last year and what is happening right now is related. But it is still under investigation‚” she said.

However‚ Mtose was at pains to state that this was not a problem unique to UniZulu.

“It is not particularly a University of Zululand problem‚ it's a problem in general. When you have female students and male lecturers… these things happen‚" she said.