CPUT graduation incident under investigation
CPUT investigates shocking incident after a man posed as a student and collected a certificate that did not belong to him.
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) has launched an investigation after a shocking incident at its Autumn Graduation Ceremony. A man impersonated a student and collected a qualification that was not his.
The incident happened on 14 April 2026 at the university’s Cape Town campus. A Gqeberha man, Sihle Joseph, attended the ceremony even though he was no longer a registered student. He had failed his studies and had not been enrolled since 2023.
Despite this, he managed to walk across the stage and collect a certificate under the name of another student, Thandy Jevu.
People are going to the lengths of stealing graduations gowns and degrees for content now ???????? pic.twitter.com/nsi41pxumI
— The Instigator (@Am_Blujay) April 16, 2026
“Hard work pays off” ???????????????????????????????????????? https://t.co/7ECkDgnjvT pic.twitter.com/BEYTJikJeh
— SHIMATSATSA ????????♀️ ???? (@Boity_tshivhase) April 16, 2026
HOW THE CPUT INCIDENT HAPPENED
According to eNCA, CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kensley said the university is investigating how the incident took place.
“The perpetrator would have perhaps obtained tickets from someone else who was perhaps not attending the graduation, and used those tickets to access the venue. Once he was in the venue, he then scouted around for an empty seat. And then used her name and walked across the stage and collected her certificate,” she explained.
The suspect took advantage of the situation inside the venue. He found an unused seat and used a name card that did not belong to him.
CPUT AND POLICE TO TAKE ACTION
The university is taking the matter seriously and has launched both internal and criminal investigations. Officials are currently waiting for an affidavit from the affected student before moving forward with formal fraud charges through SAPS.
The university confirmed that the student arrived three hours late to the ceremony, which left her seat and name card unused. This created an opportunity that the suspect exploited.
Staff members noticed the incident shortly after the ceremony ended and quickly began addressing the situation. CPUT has since worked closely with the affected student and has assured that she will receive her rightful certificate, either the original or a replacement.
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