By Simon Nare
Independent Development Trust (IDT) board chairperson Zimbini Hill’s academic qualifications came under scrutiny during a Portfolio Committee on Public Works meeting on Wednesday, with MPs demanding evidence of her qualifications and an update of investigations into the matter.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson had to jump to Hill’s defence as several MPs and committee chairperson Carol Mokgadi Phiri demanded clarity on the allegations of a fraudulent master’s degree held by Hill.
Phiri demanded to know the highest qualification required for anyone to become member of the IDT board and lamented that Macpherson had not shared the advertisement of the vacancy for board members, who joined the board when he became minister following the formation of the Government of National Unity.
Hill was one of the members who rejoined the board after she left when she was about to be fired by then public works and infrastructure minister Sihle Zikalala, who is now the deputy minister.
She was later nominated to be chairperson, and the appointment was approved by Macpherson, who she confirmed on Wednesday she has a close relationship with.
The minister is alleged to have violated governance protocol by approving Hill’s nomination as chairperson.
Macpherson in response assured the committee that all processes were followed in Hill’s appointment, saying the matter was taken to court by non-governmental organisations who were opposed to it, and the court ruled against them.
Macpherson said allegations against Hill started when she rejoined the board and were spread some faceless NGOs.
He said Hill had served in various government institutions and each time she had been vetted.
“First of all it started with her nationality, which is completely false. They claimed she is a foreign national; she is not. She is a South African. They then attacked her qualifications without any proof. They just said they are fraudulent. No one has ever provided any proof.
“Her qualifications have been verified by South African Qualifications Authority and they are true. Then thirdly after that failed, they then attacked the race of her husband,” he said.
Macpherson did not share with the committee whether any investigation was undertaken to verify the qualifications, instead assuring MPs that vetting was done successfully.
In response, Hill told the committee that she was a proud holder of master’s degree from a London institution, which has now been renamed Bayes Business School. It was previously known as Cass Business School.
She said she studied at the institution after she got a scholarship from a South African company where she was working at the time. She added that she had over a decade experience in the public sector.
“My qualifications, include the master’s. I don’t claim to have a master’s degree. My qualifications are verified. I do indeed proudly hold a master’s from a London institution,” she assured.
Hill told the committee that she and IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka were looking at ways of mending their working relationship.
Relations between the two are said to have further strained upon her return. Officials sympathetic to Malaka have alleged that Hill was making her life unbearable because she was eyeing her job and was backed by Macpherson.
Hill has denies that she has any ambitions of become CEO and Macpherson has refused to comment on the matter, saying these rumours are being spread by faceless people.
“I hear you chairperson about working together (with Malaka). We have worked together before with the CEO in the beginning and we did have some heavy bounce and we are looking to see how we can work towards a better and cohesive working relationship,” she said.
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