Sizwe Kupelo should not have been shortlisted for an interview for the position of a communications officer in the office of the premier, nor should he have been interviewed.
This was the evidence of his former boss in the office, former director of communications Manelisi Wolela, testifying virtually in the East London commercial crimes court on Thursday.
Kupelo has pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud, two counts of uttering and forgery.
It is the state’s case that Kupelo allegedly misrepresented his qualifications when applying for the post of “Communication Officer: Media Liaison post in the Office of the Premier” in 2001, and later, as “Deputy Director: Communications post in the Department of Health” in 2002.
According to the charge sheet, Kupelo landed government jobs for which he was paid more than R18m over the course of his career.
The state alleges Kupelo acted with intent to defraud, knowingly submitting a forged document, and failed to disclose that he had not met the minimum educational requirements.
An internal disciplinary hearing found Kupelo not guilty.
Wolela, who now works in parliament as a director responsible for media and stakeholder relations, said he and the panel that shortlisted Kupelo, now a deputy director in the department of health, believed human resources had verified his qualifications.
The court has heard Kupelo submitted three short-course certificates — a community journalism certificate from Rhodes, a certificate from the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, and a certificate of completion of election coverage.
The requirement for the post was a post-matric qualification such as a degree or diploma.
Wolela was testifying as a Section 204 witness, who could be prosecuted if his evidence is not accepted. He worked in the office of the premier until 2004.
Wolela said he knew Kupelo when he worked at Unitra Community Radio. The panel recommended him for the position after interviewing him.
Wolela said the interview was done on the basis that Kupelo met the requirements for the post, including experience. No headhunting was involved.
“My understanding now, with hindsight and the allegations that are there now, is that the accused didn’t have matric.
“He should not have been shortlisted or interviewed. Without a matric certificate, there was no prospect of his being shortlisted. The matric certificate was pivotal.
“The assumption is that no-one will have a post-matric qualification without matric.”
On Thursday, the court heard that after receiving a tip-off that Kupelo did not have matric, his boss, Siyanda Manana, had the certificate Kupelo submitted in 2007 verified.
It was discovered the certificate was fraudulent.
Advocate Mncedisi Simoyi, for Kupelo, put it to Wolela that the advertised post did not mention matric as a requirement.
Wolela said it was common knowledge that a matric was a requirement.
Simoyi put it to Wolela that Kupelo’s version was that he responded to the call from the premier’s office to apply for the job.
Wolela said Kupelo ought to not have been shortlisted or appointed.
When Simoyi said Wolela had persuaded the panel to shortlist Kupelo because of his radio background, Wolela said he would not have done so had he known Kupelo did not have matric.
Kupelo remains out on R30,000 bail after he was arrested by the Hawks in 2024.
The trial continues on Friday.
Daily Dispatch
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