South Africa: Professor Appointed to Prominent Position Despite Academic Misconduct – South African News Digest – October 17, 2023

A former adjunct professor at Nelson Mandela University, Christian Adendorff, has been appointed as the deputy chairperson of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Commission by the KwaZulu-Natal government. However, this decision has sparked concerns as Adendorff had previously been accused of plagiarism. He was found to have copied paragraphs from two international policies and presented them as his own work. The Commission’s objective is to formulate a strategy to enhance the competitiveness of key economic sectors related to the 4IR. The KwaZulu-Natal government has not yet provided a comment in response to inquiries from News24.

In a separate news story, heavy rainfall in the Eastern Cape region has caused localized flooding in areas such as Port St Johns, Coffee Bay, and the Green Farms area. The South African Weather Service has issued a warning for disruptive rain in the OR Tambo and Amathole districts. Authorities in the OR Tambo district municipality and Buffalo City Metro are on high alert and have deployed disaster management teams to address the situation. Flooding in the Buffalo City Metro has been exacerbated by blocked stormwater drains caused by illegal dumping. The community has been advised to avoid crossing flooded areas and seek higher ground when necessary.