The Citizen - Warren Mabona
Thursday, 06 November 2014
The CEO of Gateway Airports Authority Limited, Thulani Zulu, does not have academic qualifications - in fact, his matric is also questionable. An investigation by The Citizen has revealed Zulu might have used a fake degree to secure his million-rand-a-year job.
This is because the records of the qualifications he claims to have on his CV could not be verified by MIE, the company that verifies academic qualifications. Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has also launched a probe into Zulu`s qualifications.Gateway, based in Limpopo,is a state-owned enterprise responsible for managing all airports in the province. It currently manages the Polokwane International Airport.Zulu was appointed in 2011 on a three-year contact.
The Citizen is in possession of documents purporting to certify Zulu`s matric certificate and two degrees.The documents were issued by the University of Zululand "in lieu" of the original degree certificates that were either lost or destroyed.
According to the documents, Zulu was awarded a bachelor of arts degree in 1990 and an honours degree in the same discipline in 1992, but his surname is listed as Manqele on all three copies of the certificates.However, a copy of Zulu`s per-sonal-credential-verification certificate, issued by MIE in April 2012, clearly shows he has not completed any degrees. It also shows his Matric verification is still pending.
A consultant at MIE, who identified herself as Katlego Jabosigo, this week said: "We still have the same records for him as issued in 2012."Cosatu`s provincial secretary, Gerald Twala, said the federation doubted Zulu had the qualifications he claimed to have. He called on Zulu to reveal his qualifications to the public or resign .However, Zulu insisted he completed Matric at Kwa-Makhutha High School in Kwa-Zulu-Natal and later studied for two degrees. "I officially changed my surname from Manqele to Zulu for personal reasons," he explained.
Zulu said he would reveal the main reasons behind the calls for his resignation after the release of Madonsela`s report. Madonsela`s spokesperson, Oupa Segalwe, confirmed the public protector was looking into the matter. Gateway could not be reached for comment. According to the Polokwane Airport website, Zulu has 15 years of aviation experience with Airports Company SA.
