Algoa FM news
The trial of a woman accused of misleading the Eastern Cape Department of Health about obtaining a qualification as a radiographer continued in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
The 27-year-old Asisipho Mbekela claims that she graduated from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in 2016, however, the State alleges that she lied about her qualification and failed dismally, only passing one of her four subjects during her final examination.
On Thursday, State Prosecutor Clint Jacobs called his next witness Carolynn Lackay, who is a lecturer at CPUT.
Lackay, who was Mbekela's former Clinical Radiographic Practice (3) lecturer, told the court how she was shocked when her former student walked across the graduation stage to collect her certificate despite failing three of her four final year modules.
In her evidence, Lackay detailed the events leading up to the evening of the Autumn graduation ceremony, on 15 April 2016, where the accused collected her diploma before allegedly leaving the venue halfway through the ceremony, never to be seen again.
She told the court that she quickly checked the graduation booklet to look for Mbekela's name, which was not printed in the leaflet, as she knew her student did not meet the requirements to graduate.
Previously, Mbekela who obtained less than 40% in three of her modules appealed her results in an attempt to seek a re-assessment.
Lackay who formed part of a committee to oversee such appeals said Mbekela, who claimed to have suffered from stress and depression causing her to fail, was required to furnish members with a doctors' note confirming this.
The accused however failed to do so and the appeal was rejected.
Lackay further told the court that immediately after Mbekela collected her diploma, she texted her asking to see her immediately after the ceremony.
She said, "I even texted her sister who I spotted in the audience as well as a student who was sitting near Asisipho, informing him to tell her to meet me at the auditorium entrance after the ceremony."
Later after the procession concluded with its formalities, Lackay rushed to find the accused before being told by another student that she had gone to the bathroom halfway through the ceremony and did not return.
Lackay immediately reported the incident to her colleague and her Head of Department.
Mbekela pleaded not guilty to three counts of fraud and two of forgery at the start of her trial in December 2019.
The case was postponed until Friday when the state is expected to call two more witnesses.
Lackay will return to court on a different date for cross-examination.
