Economist Thabi Leoka has been removed from the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, effective immediately, following allegations of falsely claiming a PhD from the London School of Economics (LSE). Leoka has been at the center of a qualifications scandal, with the LSE finding no record of her being awarded a PhD by the institution.
The Presidency, in a non-statutory body, terminated her membership in the advisory council, where members volunteer their time and are not employed or remunerated by the state.
Leoka had recently resigned from the boards of Anglo American Platinum and MTN South Africa, citing health reasons and the questions surrounding her academic qualifications. Both companies acknowledged her resignation in statements, with MTN SA accepting her resignation on Monday.
Leoka, who joined the board of Anglo American Platinum in 2020 and MTN South Africa in 2019, claimed to hold a PhD from the LSE during her testimony before the Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training in 2017.
The qualifications row has raised concerns about Leoka’s credibility and potential legal implications.
Anglo American Platinum did not comment on whether Leoka was vetted before her appointment, while Netcare admitted to failing to adequately verify her claimed PhD qualification before appointing her to its board in January 2022. The ongoing controversy highlights the need for more rigorous verification processes in appointments to corporate boards and public institutions.
Thabi Leoka continues to serve on the Statistics South Africa Council and remains a board member of the Small Business Institute.