Leoka fired by President's council as woes pile up
President Cyril Ramaphosa has axed 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.
A Fin24 report notes that Leoka has been under fire after the London School of Economics denied her claim that she has a doctorate from that institution.
Last week, Ramaphosa asked Leoka to ‘expeditiously address the matter of her qualifications’.
Magwenya said the council was a non-statutory body, therefore formal vetting wasn't a requirement.
‘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.
She has also worked on a panel that reviewed SA's zero-rated VAT products.
On Monday, Leoka resigned from the boards of MTN SA and Anglo American Platinum in the wake of the controversy.
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.
