Joel Sangweni became the focus of social media backlash after he claimed to be a University of Johannesburg (UJ) lecturer and posted a message online that many interpreted as xenophobic and unprofessional.
Joel Sangweni gets instant karma for posing as UJ lecturer
In a now-deleted Facebook comment, Sangweni wrote:
“We don’t make money here, mina I’m a lecturer, I will make your kids suffer and fail, those from Zimbabwe will pass with distinctions.”
The statement triggered widespread anger and led to a flood of posts tagging UJ, demanding a response.
Social media users accused Sangweni of inciting division and discrimination against South African students.
The comment, which appeared to glorify academic sabotage, was especially inflammatory given the tensions around xenophobia and fairness in education.
Many online demanded accountability and for UJ to confirm whether Sangweni held a position at the university.
In response, the University of Johannesburg issued an official statement, on Monday.
The university confirmed that Joel Sangweni is not, and has never been, a lecturer at the institution. He briefly worked as a tutor in 2024 but holds no current position with the university.
UJ further stated that while Sangweni has since claimed his Facebook account was hacked, they are taking the matter seriously. The university is investigating the incident and is considering legal action.
“The University takes academic integrity seriously and will take strong steps, including legal action, against any person who, by omission or commission, undermines its commitment to academic integrity,” the statement read.
UJ emphasised that it distances itself entirely from Sangweni’s comments, reiterating that the university remains committed to upholding academic values and does not tolerate behaviour that brings its reputation into disrepute.
At the time of writing, there has been no indication of formal charges against Sangweni, but the university has warned that appropriate legal steps are being explored to address the reputational harm caused.
