Bogus teacher gets eight years for fake degree

A 45-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years’ direct imprisonment without the option of a fine for using a fraudulent teaching qualification, the South African Police Service said.

Lunga Nkrumah Sivuku was sentenced in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 13 October 2026 after pleading guilty to charges of fraud, forgery and uttering, according to a SAPS media statement. The case was investigated by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit in Komani.

The investigation began in 2020 after the unit received information that Sivuku, who was employed as a teacher at Corana Junior School, had fraudulently obtained and used a Bachelor of Education degree. SAPS said the information prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the qualifications and their use in connection with his employment.

Sivuku was arrested on 20 March 2023 at his residence in Corana Village. He appeared in court and was released on bail of R2,000. The matter proceeded through several court appearances before he ultimately pleaded guilty.

The sentence of eight years’ direct imprisonment without the option of a fine was handed down on 13 October 2026.

The SAPS statement is a summary of the case rather than the full court record. The canonical source is available at https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=71844.