The sentencing of Mthatha’s bogus radiographer, who practiced for months without the proper qualifications, has been postponed yet again in the Gqeberha Specialized Commercial Crimes Court.
Twenty-seven-year-old Asisipho Mbekela who has been found guilty of three counts of fraud and two counts of forgery was not present in court on Wednesday.
Her attorney, Peter Daubermann, requested a further remand for outstanding reports.
Mbekela who was a student at Cape Peninsula the University of Technology (CPUT) attended her graduation ceremony although she didn't qualify to graduate after failing three out of four modules.
By the time the probe into Mbekela's qualification was instituted, she was doing her community service as a radiographer at Livingstone Hospital.
Previously, Daubermann argued that it was unthinkable that Mbekela would have risked public humiliation by attending the ceremony with her whole family fully knowing she didn't qualify.
However, Magistrate Lionel Lindoor said that it was prudent to refer to a quote by Mark Twain in this case that “Truth is stranger than fiction. It has to be, Fiction has to be possible and truth doesn't."
He said Mbekela had planned everything and had forged supporting documents that she knew would convince officials at the ceremony that she was on the list of graduates.
Lindoor said Mbekela thought she would be able to get away with it but that a lecturer at the graduation ceremony recognised her and raised the alarm.
The matter will be back in court on the 27th of March, while her bail has been extended.
