Net ‘n paar uittreksels uit ‘n brief van Lukhona Mnguni aan Jordan: Hoe sê die Ingelse? 'n Wannabe! As dit nie die hare, postuur en gelaatskleur is nie, dan kom motors, ontwerpersklere, huise en plase ook nog by, en vir die wis en onwis sommer 'n wit vrou ook!Dear ‘Dr’ Pallo Zweledinga Jordan

Lukhona Mnguni

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Dear ‘Dr’ Pallo Zweledinga Jordan

 I had never imagined a day I would write to you in this fashion. For the longest time, I have admired your intellect and the distinct voice you articulate it with. I still admire your intellect even as I write this. However, I am also mindful that as human beings our values, morals and ethics are tested most when those we admire err. If as a person I disagree with dishonesty, I must continue to disagree even when an individual I admire and/or love is being dishonest – my indifference would be on its own a dishonest act to my true character.

Since the revelations in the Sunday Times newspaper, that you might have falsely claimed qualifications you have never read for in your life, your silence has been audible. It makes me wonder if you might have inconveniently been forced into another era of exile, even though South African politics are no longer in a state that would force us into exile. I hope that at some point you will resurface, tell the truth and let this ghost to rest.

The person who revealed these claims, Gareth van Onselen, is not one I particularly like; however, the concept of logic is that irrespective of who makes the claim, if the flow of logic in the tale has an element of truth, that tale must be taken seriously. Thus, those people who are solely defending you based on not liking the person who broke the story are doing a disservice to their own intellectual faculties. This is not even a thing of taking sides. A person either has qualifications (through hard and strenuous labour) from an institution of higher education or does not have them. It is very simple. At the level of doctoral studies, a comprehensive thesis is required – irrespective of its blandness or prowess, it is required as evidence.

Education is very important and it can be a strenuous hierarchy to get through. It is filled with moments of hardship, joy, success and disappointment. It takes years to accomplish. Some of us, in pursuance of a PhD, are defying the hopes and dreams of our families that by now we should be working, earning money and ploughing back home to alleviate the financial strain and burden. With your level of intellectualism, you know very well the complex and obvious circumstances that inhibit black South Africans in particular to pursue postgraduate studies beyond an Honours Degree.

The attainment of a PhD, which I hope to legitimately receive in the next five years, is the pinnacle of education success and the culmination of hard work, sacrifice and struggle to produce a positive outcome that all can be proud of. I already know I wish to slaughter at least three cows the day I am robed in that red gown – there is just something about it. Beyond that it easily shows how far one has gone in the education hierarchy, it also demonstrates to the individual their sense of success, tenacity and staying power. It is not an easy journey – especially for us black people.