Wits investigates alleged cheating after ANC official's phone rings during exam

The University of the Witwatersrand is investigating allegations of cheating against an ANC politician, accused of cribbing during an exam last week.

Member of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature, Jomo Sibiya, is at the centre of the investigation and has strongly denied any wrongdoing. “I have never been caught cheating in any exam, in fact I have never cheated in any exam,” he said.

“I have already passed my last two exams well. I hold a degree from UKZN which I passed very well. In all my student life I have never cheated and I can't start now."

Sibiya allegedly failed to switch off his phone - as exam protocol stipulates - during an examination he sat for at the university last week. The invigilator was alerted to this when Sibiya's phone rang.

The Wits School of Governance's executive education department offers short courses for a wide range of students, including public officials, elected public representatives, and many others.

It is a key method for allowing full-time professionals to upgrade their skills and performance, where they may be unable to take off sufficient time to do part-time Masters or other degrees.

Brash verbal exchange

Three other students sitting for the exam told News24 of a brash verbal exchange between an exam invigilator and Sibiya, whose phone had sounded while the exam was in progress.

They requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.

The invigilator allegedly accused Sibiya of accessing slides for the closed book test via the phone, and attempted to get him to relinquish his script, but he refused.

Professor David Everatt, head of the Wits School of Governance, said the allegations were viewed in a serious light.

“Wits takes allegations of cheating extremely seriously, and acts with decisiveness when they are found to be true. The university will follow the normal procedures in dealing with this matter, as we would in any other.

“In an examination that was sat some days ago, involving MPLs, allegations of cheating were made by one student against another," he said.

"The invigilator is working with the university to assess the veracity of the allegations, and if they are found to be true, appropriate action will be taken within the rules and regulations that govern all such incidents.”

Source: News24