Johannesburg – The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) CEO Tshepo Mahanuke has been suspended amid accusations he lied about his academic qualifications to secure his plum job.
All week Mahanake, whose salary is about R3.5 million a year, has tried to fend off questions about his claimed doctorate and other qualifications.
Even the Mayor of Johannesburg Dr. Mpho Phalatse weighed in requesting that the allegations be probed.
On Thursday the JRA Board said: “Following thorough consultation, the move to place Mr. Mahanuke on special leave was deemed the most appropriate to allow for a fair process, by an independent entity, to unfold to determine the facts.”
The board said Mahanuke’s decision to willingly subject himself to this process was also noted and commended.
“We are pleased that the process initiated by the Board is expected to be completed by the 30th of November 2022,” said the board.
At the weekend media reports suggested that Mahanuke’s qualifications were fraudulent. He was appointed earlier this year in August and still has three months to go to complete his probation.
According to the Daily Maverick, Mahanuke bought his doctorate and his degree, purportedly from the Harvard University which does not exist.
The publication reported that Mahanuke’s honorary doctorate could be bought for a small ‘support honorarium’ from the Trinity International University of Ambassadors and that his Master’s degree in competitive intelligence from ACI College is not actually offered at Harvard.
Furthermore, Mahanuke holds a diploma after finishing an engineering technician course and not an engineering degree.
Acting on the allegation on Thursday, the JRA board said: “A speedy but thorough process will allow the Johannesburg Roads Agency, the City at large, and the Multi-Party Government, to focus on fulfilling the urgent service delivery mandate that is before us, with little distraction.”
Roads in the City of Gold have significantly deteriorated, and the ongoing wet weather makes them even more hazardous.
JRA oversees 7 224km of roads – many of which are in poor or very poor condition, and 3 943km of stormwater drains. Flooding of roads suggests stormwater drains were blocked.
Mayor Dr. Phalatse and MMC for Transport Funzi Ngobeni and the Johannesburg Multi-Party Government said in a joint statement that they welcome the JRA Board’s commitment to good governance and service delivery.
“We take note of and support the decision of the Board of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), as communicated by the Chairperson, Mr. Thabo Motloung, to place the CEO, Mr. Tshepo Mahanuke, on special leave pending an independent investigation process,” said the statement.
However, the JRA has refused to disclose the name of the law firm that will probe the matter.
