Ramaphosa fires Thabi Leoka from his economic council
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.
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 that the council is 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.
Both companies used the same language to announce her resignation, saying that the 44-year-old had stepped down to "attend to her health and the questions she has been facing concerning her academic qualifications".
Leoka, who is currently in the US undergoing medical treatment for glaucoma, is also listed on the board of the Small Business Institute. The institute did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Last year, Leoka resigned from her directorships at Netcare and Remgro.
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