University of Johannesburg: UJ clarifies a media report claiming that its senior officials were involved in an attempted embezzlement

​The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has noted an article that appeared on News24 on Tuesday, 10 August 2021, under the headline “Senior UJ officials involved in attempted embezzlement of hundreds of millions in government funding” (“the Article”).

It is worth noting that the Article refers to a series of events preceding 2017 and that none of the people or entities mentioned in the article are currently UJ employees or have any association with the University, whatsoever, contrary to what was reported in the article.

As for the matter regarding two former executives – Dr Roy Marcus (former chairperson of the University’s Council) (“Marcus”) and Jaco van Schoor (the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Finance) (“Van Schoor”) – this is a matter dating back five years ago.

The University wishes to remind the public that the matter was vigorously investigated and in this regard the Council of UJ was quick to commission an investigation by SNG Grant (SizweNtsalubaGobodo) an independent audit, advisory and forensic services firm. Also, the University then duly laid criminal charges.

The Criminal case is currently being handled by the Hawks. Civil actions were instituted in the South Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg High Court) against Marcus, Van Schoor and 9 others to repay the monies that they defrauded the University with. This matter is ongoing and being actively pursued by UJ.

UJ further wishes to state that it takes claims of fraud and corruption seriously and that it does not tolerate these in any form. When such claims are made or emerge, the University has internal processes to investigate and act accordingly, as it did with Marcus and Van Schoor. This is an ethical and moral obligation, and the University will not hesitate to act against any of its employees found to have been involved in any acts of fraud and corruption or any other transgression.