Thulani Khoza, the man Sowetan exposed as a bogus businessman with fake qualifications, will be stripped of his SA Man of the Year award after he failed to produce proof of his qualifications and accomplishments.
The Department of Social Development, who are the organisers of the awards, have instead offered Khoza professional help in the form of rehabilitation. Khoza from Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga, is the man behind T-Touch Mobile, which he had promoted as SA's first producer of smartphone and tablets.
However, Sowetan's investigation revealed the venture was just a scam Khoza used to dupe investors and other victims.
He also lied about having qualifications from Wits and Harvard University in the US.
His ID number is also invalid, and he does not own a registered business. Last month Khoza won the SA Man of the Year for science and technology, a category that "acknowledges an individual that has played a significant role in ensuring community development in science and technology".
He was given the award and was also going to be handed a R15000 cash prize. However, the monetary payment was held back after Sowetan alerted the awards' chairman, Bongani Ngomane, that Khoza had misrepresented himself in the portfolio he submitted to judges.
Yesterday, Ngomane confirmed they intended taking the award from Khoza after he failed to provide them with document pertaining to his qualifications.
Sowetan has seen a letter sent to him by Ngomane.
"It has come to the department's attention that you submitted a profile that does not reflect the true nature of your studies, accomplishment and so on," reads the letter in part.
Ngomane said they gave Khoza until Monday this week to respond, but he failed to do so.
Khoza was called and SMSed for comment, but had not done so by the time of going to print.
sifilel@sowetan.co.za
Bogus businessman to be stripped of award
Thulani Khoza, the man Sowetan exposed as a bogus businessman with fake qualifications, will be stripped of his SA Man of the Year award after he failed to produce proof of his qualifications and accomplishments.
The Department of Social Development, who are the organisers of the awards, have instead offered Khoza professional help in the form of rehabilitation. Khoza from Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga, is the man behind T-Touch Mobile, which he had promoted as SA's first producer of smartphone and tablets.
However, Sowetan's investigation revealed the venture was just a scam Khoza used to dupe investors and other victims.
He also lied about having qualifications from Wits and Harvard University in the US.
His ID number is also invalid, and he does not own a registered business. Last month Khoza won the SA Man of the Year for science and technology, a category that "acknowledges an individual that has played a significant role in ensuring community development in science and technology".
He was given the award and was also going to be handed a R15000 cash prize. However, the monetary payment was held back after Sowetan alerted the awards' chairman, Bongani Ngomane, that Khoza had misrepresented himself in the portfolio he submitted to judges.
Yesterday, Ngomane confirmed they intended taking the award from Khoza after he failed to provide them with document pertaining to his qualifications.
Sowetan has seen a letter sent to him by Ngomane.
"It has come to the department's attention that you submitted a profile that does not reflect the true nature of your studies, accomplishment and so on," reads the letter in part.
Ngomane said they gave Khoza until Monday this week to respond, but he failed to do so.
Khoza was called and SMSed for comment, but had not done so by the time of going to print.
sifilel@sowetan.co.za
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