UJ expels 50 students, 25 for fraudulent sick notes

UJ

Johannesburg — The University of Johannesburg (UJ) reportedly expelled 50 students from the establishment for several serious infringements including plagiarism, fraud, and assault.

Among the students, 25 of them used fake sick notes after they were absent during exams, and were expelled for five years (three suspended). Two of the students were fifth-year law students, EWN reported.

The other 25 students were expelled for having unauthorised notes on their phones, fraudulent matric results and medical aid certificates, plagiarism, and assault. UJ registrar, Bettine van Vuuren, said the institution goes to extreme lengths to verify sick notes, including contacting the medical professional listed on the sick note.

“We do go to great lengths to actually authenticate these medical certificates or sick notes provided. We examine these notes and when we pick up any discrepancies, we then contact the medical professional over whether they had seen the student,” she said.

“Before these actually go over to a student disciplinary, we really do our due diligence,” she added.

According to Briefly News, UJ spokesperson, Herman Esterhuizen, said that the number of transgressions is a small percentage of the overall student population, with only 50 out of 54 000 students caught.

“We take academic integrity very seriously and uphold stringent ethical standards. Our priority remains ensuring a fair and just academic environment for all students,” he said.

Higher Education Deputy Minister Mimmy Gondwe commended UJ for its decisive action and stressed the importance of rooting out fraudulent activities at these institutions to maintain the integrity of the higher education system.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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