EC Health Department spokesperson in court for fraud and forgery

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The spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Department of Health, Sizwe Kupelo made a brief appearance in the Zwelitsha Magistrates Court on Wednesday on charges of fraud, forgery and uttering.

Kupelo, 47, was granted bail of R30 000 and warned to return to court next Wednesday.

Hawks Eastern Cape spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ndimphiwe Mhlakuvana said he handed himself over to the police where he was processed at the Fleet Street police station before making his court appearance.

He said in March 2002 Kupelo was appointed as a Communication Officer in the Office of the Premier, and in November of that year was appointed as the Deputy Director of Communications in the Department of Health in Bhisho.

"It is further reported that in 2020, the Department of Health conducted a skills and qualifications audit on all employees appointed by the Department where it was established that he had allegedly submitted a fraudulent certificate when he started at the Department in 2002.

The Provincial Health Department noted Kupelo's arrest saying it would cooperate with any investigation that seeks to "strengthen the integrity of the services that we render to the people of the Eastern Cape."

Kupelo received an honourary doctorate from the Trinity International Bible University in 2022.

The Sizwe Kupelo Foundation said in a social media post that he worked as a journalist before joining the public service more than 20 years ago. The entry also says he received training at the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation in Oslo, Norway.

Meanwhile, two days ago, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, said in a statement that the Trinity International Bible University was not a registered private higher education institution and was not authorised to offer any qualifications, including honourary degrees.

"As the department, we have nothing against Trinity International Bible University or the celebrities they have chosen to honour. We are, however, deeply disturbed by the persistent disregard for the department's regulations by the management of Trinity International Bible University," the statement said.