Sunday Tribune reports that a deputy principal at Margate Middle School is being investigated for allegedly using a dead teacher’s qualifications to land senior education posts.  

Sindiswa Base is alleged to have taken over the qualifications of Nonkanyiso Fumba, who died in 2011 of natural causes.  Her family confirmed her death and said they were aware Base had been using her qualifications.  Fumba’s brother-in-law, Xolile Njikija, said his family were concerned by how Base obtained his dead sister-in-law’s qualifications, which included an advanced certificate in education and a national professional diploma in education, both from Rhodes University in 2008.  A university spokesperson confirmed that the qualifications were legitimate.  Base’s matric certificate submitted to the education department also allegedly belonged to Fumba.  Base is alleged to have used the qualifications to secure a job at Gabangezwa High School before landing a position at the Margate school.  It is believed she started as a level one educator and was later promoted to deputy principal.  A police spokesperson said an inquiry had been opened for further investigations.  A Department of Education spokesperson said they viewed the allegations as “extremely serious” and were investigating.  Base said she had no idea who Fumba was and denied using the deceased woman’s qualifications.  Last week, the SA Council for Educators (Sace) said it was planning to hand over 19 cases of teachers allegedly using fake qualifications to the Hawks.

• Read this report by Nabeelah Shaikh in full at Sunday Tribune

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