Esteemed economist Thabi Leoka denies claims she misrepresented qualifications
Thabi Leoka, a member of multiple boards, was accused in the Business Day of lying about her PhD qualification from the London School of Economics.
FILE: Leoka denied any wrongdoing, saying that she would be considering taking legal action against Business Day. Picture: Supplied
JOHANNESBURG - Highly esteemed economist and multiple board member Thabi Leoka has denied allegations that she misrepresented her PhD qualification.
Business Day reported that Leoka lied about the qualification from the London School of Economics.
Leoka served on boards of JSE-listed companies, including MTN, Anglo American Platinum and most recently Remgro.
In 2019, she was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
Leoka hit back on Tuesday morning, saying this was a personal attack on her, as she was first approached with these allegations by the Daily Maverick.
“I was surprised but also I was told by my lawyer that what typically happens in these situations is that someone will merchandise the story. So if a publication or a newspaper doesn’t want to publicise the article, then that person will go somewhere else until they find joy in their mission, and that is having that story publicised. That seems to be what has happened.”
She also disputed reports that her misrepresentation led to her removal from the Remgro board.
“The reason why I left Remgro, the right word, I opted not to be renominated, was for health issues and that’s why in the report it says that for personal reasons – there was no firing.
“I have glaucoma and I have degenerative glaucoma, and so that’s why I’m in the US to seek medical intervention here.”
Leoka says the reason her name cannot be found among PhD holders from the London School of Economics is because she changed it at home affairs.
She insists reports related to her qualifications are false, adding that there's an agenda against her.
Leoka says without using the right names, the school would not be able to verify or confirm this.