Shaik was awarded a
PhD in mechanical engineering in 2003 from the then University of
Natal.
More than two-thirds of it was copied from journal papers by other
authors, without citation or acknowledgement.
His degree is now under
investigation by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s higher degrees
committee.
Charges of misconduct are being investigated against two
professors who supervised his thesis, Viktor Verijenko and Sarp Adali
.
Kanthan Pillay
Professor Kanthan Pillay, the
university’s chief finance officer, was suspended in January after a university
tribunal found there were “multiple irregularities” in the awarding of his
master’s degree in taxation last year.
His degree was revoked by the
university senate and he is facing a charge of misconduct. The hearing is set to
take place over four days next month.
A probe launched by the university
alleged that Pillay paid the dean of management studies, Professor Pumela
Msweli-Mbanga, R80 000, and that the two had been involved in an intimate
relationship.
Nobubele Potwana
Potwana, a senior lecturer
at the School of Management , graduated with a PhD in 2005.
She was
charged with corruption and appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes
Court in April after allegedly paying Professor Pumela Msweli- Mbanga R16150 for
writing her thesis.
She and Msweli-Mbanga, who also faces a corruption charge, are out on
bail of R5 000 each.