'Professor' seeks to stop newspaper report
The sensitive issue of whether the head of the Motheo College in Bloemfontein and former board member of education authority Umalusi may call herself ‘professor’ will be examined in the Free State High Court today.
According to a Volksblad report, ‘Professor’ Dipiloane Phutsisi brought an urgent application to interdict the Sunday Times from writing about the issue this weekend.
Phutsisi argues in her application that reportage by the Sunday Times would interfere with her pending defamation action against one of her senior colleagues, Tumelo Kabi.
If she answers questions by a Sunday Times journalist, it could be used by Kabi in his defence, Phutsisi argues.
The Sunday Times argues that the matter is in the public interest as Phutsisi holds senior leadership roles in the education sector. She is the deputy president of the SA Organisation of Public Colleges.
Court papers contain a copy of a diploma issued by the The Academic Union Oxford, England, in December 2018.
The diploma awards her the honorary title of ‘professor’.
The Sunday Times further argues that Phutsisi is under no obligation to answer any of their questions she feels uncomfortable with.
One of the questions is whether she paid any money to The Academic Union Oxford before or after they awarded her the honorary title and how much.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
