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The state says the case against Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo is is almost ready for trial, with a pretrial conference set for 18 July.
Kupelo appeared in the East London Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday, as he battles the allegations of falsifying his matric qualifications to get a position in the health department in 2002.
During the pretrial conference on the 18th of July, the state and the defence will determine whether the matter can be resolved through a plea agreement or to proceed to trial.
He faces charges of fraud, forgery and uttering and is currently out on bail of R30 000.
Hawks spokesperson, Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said the directorate is indeed ready for trial, as their investigations divulged that Kupelo’s “matric certificate is fraudulent in every aspect.
Also Read: EC Health Department spokesperson in court for fraud and forgery
It is alleged that in March 2002, Kupelo was appointed as a Communication Officer in the Office of the Premier, and in November of that year was appointed as the Deputy Director of Communications in the Department of Health in Bhisho.
It is further reported that in 2020, the Department of Health conducted a skills and qualifications audit on all employees appointed by the Department where it was established that he had allegedly submitted a fraudulent certificate when he started at the Department in 2002.
Kupelo was however later cleared by the Department, however because this is a criminal matter, the former journalist still has a case to answer to in the eyes of the state.
Meanwhile the Hawks have also raised concern over what it means to be under the leadership of those being suspected of having fraudulent qualifications.
Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said “the fact that the senior officials in governance are implicated in allegations of possession of fraudulent qualifications is matter for concern as far as the Hawks are concerned.
She assured that “the Hawks are hellbent to see that justice is being served irrespective of one’s political status.”
