Thabi Leoka
Thabi Leoka has resigned from the boards of Anglo American Platinum and MTN South Africa to attend to her health and fake qualifications saga. Image: Supplied

Home » Thabi Leoka axed from Presidential Economic Advisory Council

Thabi Leoka axed from Presidential Economic Advisory Council

Disgraced economist Thabi Leoka has been under fire after the London School of Economics denied she has a PhD from that institution.

Thabi Leoka
Thabi Leoka has resigned from the boards of Anglo American Platinum and MTN South Africa to attend to her health and fake qualifications saga. Image: Supplied

President Cyril Ramaphosa has fired disgraced economist Thabi Leoka from his Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

“On Monday, 22 January 2024, the Presidency communicated to Ms Leoka the immediate termination of her membership in the Presidential Economic Advisory Council,” said Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.

ALSO READ: Thabi Leoka quits board positions at Anglo American and MTN SA

RAMAPHOSA ASKED HER TO ‘EXPEDITIOUSLY ADDRESS THE MATTER’

According to media reports, Leoka has been under fire after the London School of Economics denied her claim that she has a doctorate from that institution.

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Last week, it was reported that Ramaphosa asked Leoka to “expeditiously address the matter of her qualifications”.

Magwenya said that the council is a non-statutory body, therefore formal vetting wasn’t a requirement.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Ramaphosa slams ‘false’ reports on his health [VIDEO]

ANGLO AMERICAN AND MTN ACCEPT THABI LEOKA’S RESIGNATION

“The members volunteer their time, and they are not employed by the presidency, nor are they remunerated by the state.”

The 44-year-old is a well-known economist and commentator. In 2019, she was appointed by Ramaphosa to serve on the Public Investment Corporation Commission of Inquiry..

On Monday, Leoka resigned from the boards of MTN SA and Anglo American Plainum in the wake of the controversy.

ALSO READ: ‘Fit as a fiddle’: Ramaphosa slams ‘false’ reports on his health

THABI LEOKA RESIGNED TO ATTEND TO HEALTH ISSUES AND QUALIFICATIONS SAGA

Both companies used the same language to announce her resignation, saying that the 44-year-old had stepped down to “attend to her health and the questions she has been facing concerning her academic qualifications.”

Leoka, who is currently in the US undergoing medical treatment for glaucoma, is also listed on the board of the Small Business Institute. The institute did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.