UCT lecturers give white students better grades, says whistleblower

Report to department highlights inequality

- By Setumo Stone

University of Cape Town (UCT)'s academics in the faculty of social development have allegedly been awarding higher marks to white students while penalising black students in a perpetuation of racism and a culture of inequality.

Former head of department (HoD), Prof Ndangwa Noyoo, who has been acknowledged by the Department of Higher Education and Training as the UCT whistleblower, revealed this in an affidavit he penned to the department and the presidency.

On Friday, July 18, Mishack Ramoshaba of the department, reached out to Noyoo, asking that he substantiate his claims to the Presidency.

"You once contacted the office of the president regarding corruption at UCT. This is the summary of your case received from the Presidency: The citizen is complaining about corruption and maleficence at the University of Cape Town. He states that it had been aided and abetted by senior administrators at the faculty level."

In a detailed response to the department, Noyoo described the alleged malpractice as a "disturbing trend spearheaded by six individuals", whose names are known to this publication.

"When I became the HoD in January 2018, I went after this scourge head-on because I had earlier been approached by black student whistleblowers who complained of being marginalised and penalised by this group of rogue academics. This disturbing trend was spearheaded by the aforementioned six individuals, and most likely this culture of impunity has not stopped. In most instances, this transgression was done to raise the marks of white students while black students were penalised," Noyoo stated.

He further revealed that the lecturers disregarded UCT's examination policies by opening stickers containing student names while marking scripts, a violation of standard procedures meant to ensure impartiality.