Cape Town – South African former prisons boss Arthur Fraser has reportedly lied about obtaining a degree in London.
According to The Citizen, Fraser claimed in his Curriculum Vitae (CV) that he enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in film and video production at the University of London and graduated with the degree in hand.
However, according to an investigation by journalist and author Jacques Pauw Fraser never attended the University of London.
The University of London is one of the most prestigious higher institutions of learning in the world, News24 reported, adding that its alumni included the likes of Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein and so on.
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“Not only has London University bestowed an honorary degree on Nelson Mandela, but the former president also studied law at the university through distance and flexible learning when he was imprisoned on Robben Island,” the report said.
During his research for his book The President’s Keepers, which was published in 2017, Pauw inquired about Fraser’s qualifications with correctional services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo but received no response.
At the time, according to the correctional service’s site Fraser obtained a BA (Hons) degree in film and video production from the ‘London Institute’.
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Pauw’s research revealed that there is no London Institute.
“There is a London Film Institute, but it doesn’t offer university degrees and doesn’t even have a website. There are 18 universities in London – and the London Institute is not one of them,” the report quoted Pauw as saying.
Pauw further sent his query to Fraser’s lawyer Eric Mabuza, however, he never got an answer and instead, Fraser was litigating against Pauw and preferred to deal with all matters before the court of law.
Fraser is suing Pauw and NB Publishers for R35 million for the allegations stated in the author’s book. Fraser said the book made false and defamatory claims against him, The Citizen reported.
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During his tenure as Department of Correctional Services commissioner amongst other things Fraser granted Zuma parole in early September – just weeks after he was incarcerated for 15 months for ignoring a court order to testify before a judicial panel probing corruption during his nine-year tenure which lasted until 2018.
His parole was challenged by a number of parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA).
They were demanding an explanation from Fraser on the reasons behind his decision to place Zuma on medical parole.
Fraser admitted during an interview with SABC’s Vuyo Mvoko in September that he alone decided to grant medical parole to Zuma.
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Fraser said that after assessments, the medical parole advisory board “did not approve medical parole” because Zuma was “in a stable condition”.
He, however, stood by his decision to overrule this and release the former president.
Fraser’s contract as Correctional Service’s commissioner ended in 2021.
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
