Sunday Tribune

Student who doctored matric results wants to be a medic

‘CLOAK-AND-DAGGER LETHU NXUMALO lethu.nxumalo@inl.co.za

A FORMER University of Kwazulu-natal student accused of faking his matric results in 2010 to secure a place at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine is ready to face the music, but he has denied paying a R500000 bribe to academics who were allegedly selling spaces at the time.

Rivaaz Manisunker, who turns 30 today, said he felt “constitutionally raped” by all that occurred and that his rights were violated by the goings-on at the university and the state.

He said although life had been difficult since his arrest, he had found peace and that he was currently studying law and focusing on charity work.

Manisunker said the order to appear before the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court at the end of this month had left him with mixed emotions, but he was prepared to handle whatever came his way.

“I don’t care if I die. God has put me in this situation for a purpose, maybe to help fight all the dishonesty going on, but the truth will be revealed with time,” he said.

When Manisunker was arrested on fraud charges he was already in his fourth year of medical school. At the time, the university had been investigating a syndicate involving high-ranking academics and administration staff possibly involved in selling coveted spaces at the medical school.

Although many students and officials were fingered, Manisunker appeared to be the only one who was criminally charged. He told the Sunday Tribune that even though some of those involved were known to him, he was not in a position to divulge any information as it could place his life at risk.

“This matter has been a game of cloak (and dagger). After being arrested, many events occurred which were not normal. It appears there have been many third parties acting in the situation, something I can’t understand.

“Both our cars’ back windscreens were smashed, car tyres were painted and on many occasions nails were in our tyres. A person was also sitting and watching my house,” he said.

He said it would have been impossible for his family to pay the R500000 bribe as they had lived from hand-tomouth for a long time.

“We did not have much to live on and I really don’t know who or why they made that accusation. I had not paid fees at the university and I was owing a substantial amount.

“People think I paid this money and think I must have done something to interfere with the proceedings – something that is simply not true. The whole matter was irregular and the people handling the case did notice the external forces at play,” he said.

Manisunker expressed his desire to continue with medical studies somehow and said he would also be enrolling for a science foundation phase to improve his maths and physics marks.

Asked how he was able to reach his fourth year of study, Manisunker said he spent most of the time studying, that he had the desire to study and had dedicated himself to his studies.

“This matter has been a dirty stain on UKZN for some time. Some people may want to kill themselves to escape or want to kill others to escape, but I just want everyone to be strong like how I was and let justice prevail.

“Remember that even if they take away your degree, they can never take away your knowledge.

“I have always had a thirst for knowledge and a desire to help people. I’m learning how to do it the proper way now,” he said.

UKZN’S corporate relations director, Normah Zondo, confirmed that the university’s investigation had proved that Manisunker had produced a forged National Senior Certificate in order to gain admission to UKZN.

Zondo said they were not able to verify the R500 000 bribe allegations and the alleged amount could not be tracked.

She would not reveal how many academics and admin staff had been implicated in selling medical school spaces.

“This is still being investigated by the state,” she said.

Hawks spokesperson Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo said a case of fraud reported at Umbilo police station had been provisionally withdrawn but had since been reinstated and the matter was being handled by the Durban Serious Commercial Crime Investigation.

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2022-05-15T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-15T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://sundaytribune.pressreader.com/article/281522229686868

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