The report published by the Daily Dispatch on Saturday, 17 October 2020, titled “NMU prof admits to lifting Namibian text for R600 000 EC writing job” (link to PressReader version without paywall) has revealed that Nelson Mandela University’s adjunct professor, Christian Adendorff, stole and plagiarised a Namibian policy document from 2004 and submitted it as a 2017 Ngqushwa Municipality policy document – pocketing R600,000 in the process after he won a tender to write it.

His response to the journalist from the Daily Dispatch was that the practice of stealing intellectual property from elsewhere and presenting it as your own is a “standard practice” for writing policy documents for municipalities.

As the academic community of Nelson Mandela University, we are shocked, disappointed and disgusted by these revelations and comments, and we ask that the University takes the necessary steps to apply its disciplinary measures for the numerous gross violations of University policies and academic integrity that the ‘professor’ has broken. We believe that Christian Adendorff’s stealing of others’ intellectual property and plagiarism can only lead to his complete dismissal out of the records of Nelson Mandela University permanently.

We say this for the following reasons:

• Nelson Mandela University positions itself as an asset to society, especially the Eastern Cape region where it is located. Part of the University’s responsibility entails us as academics and staff members to avail our skills and expertise at the disposal of the society to serve citizens with the highest standards of integrity, excellence and Ubuntu. These three obligations are also presented as our University’s values. Christian Adendorff, by stealing intellectual property, plagiarising a policy document and misleading the local municipality of rural Ngqushwa – while pocketing R600 000 out of taxpayers resources – has shown gross disregard of everything that we stand for as the University.
• The name of Nelson Mandela University and the academic titles it provides to its students and staff has been abused by Christian Adendorff to gain entry into government records, obtain the necessary legitimacy to be entrusted with a responsibility of writing policy documents, and acquire contracts of high monetary value. These disturbing revelations and the damning of Nelson Mandela University’s name in the process have placed University’s name into disrepute. These revelations and tarnishing of the University’s image by unscrupulous behaviour of Christian Adendorff may also negatively affect staff and students who are dedicated, hard working and ethical in everything they do. Collectively, our standing in society and our academic statue have been violated – this includes the value and perceptions of the qualifications we offer to our students, as well as the contributions our academics, researchers and staff make to the betterment of our Province, country and continent. In this regard, this implication of the University and its staff and students makes it our collective responsibility to take a decisive step that will restore everything we have lost as a result of Christian Adendorff’s fraudulent activity.
• The taking of an old Namibian policy document by Christian Adendorff and presenting it as his own work for the Ngqushwa local municipality is a case of blatant plagiarism. Whether a person writes a blog, journal article, book, newspaper opinion piece, policy document, or creates artwork in the form of paintings and music – we cannot steal other people’s intellectual property and present it as your own. This is the precise reason why our University, then Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), dismissed Professor Velile Notshulwana in August 2014 as Faculty Dean of Arts for plagiarising an American comedian in his newspaper opinion piece. Therefore, for ‘professor’ Christian Adendorff to suggest to the Daily Dispatch that stealing of intellectual property and plagiarising it is a “standard practice” is quite alarming and disturbing.
• The act of plagiarism in the academic community is a serious offence. Every year Nelson Mandela University dismisses students for committing this transgression without hesitation. Surprisingly, the act of plagiarism is only reflected in detail in the student Code of Conduct. The Employee Disciplinary Procedure and Code only mentions plagiarism as a very serious offence, without discussing it in detail. Not only does this require an open conversation as to why it is the case, but it also shows the underlying problematic pedagogical culture that is embedded in the institution, where there a strict regime prepared to crush students for plagiarism but not necessarily the academics. This is unacceptable. The same strict rules, protocols and procedures that apply to students who plagiarise must apply to academic and professional staff as far as the integrity of the academic work is concerned.

After reviewing the relevant Nelson Mandela University policies, it is evident that adjunct professors are bound by the University rules and policies. If their engagement inside or outside the University brings the University into disrepute, their title can and should be revoked. We outline this in more detail below:

• According to Nelson Mandela University’s Code of Ethical Behaviour, all staff members, including adjunct professors (as per the University’s Policy on Conferring Honorary, Emeritus, Ad Personam, Visiting and Adjunct Professorial Titles) are expected to ‘observe the ethics, Values and Mission of Nelson Mandela University,’ and ‘act with and promote integrity’ in everything they do. The Code of Ethical Behaviour requires from employees to ‘always act in the best interest of Nelson Mandela University in all dealings with current or prospective students, other stakeholders, suppliers, contractors and consultants.’ Adjunct professors at Nelson Mandela University are required to comply with the University’s policies and procedures, as per the University’s Policy on Conferring Honorary, Emeritus, Ad Personam, Visiting and Adjunct Professorial Titles. This includes the Code of Ethical Behaviour.
• Plagiarism and stealing of other people’s intellectual property goes against the Code of Ethical Behaviour as well as the University’s value of integrity. This value requires all staff and students at Nelson Mandela University, including adjunct professors, to act with integrity and behave in an ethical manner inside and outside the University. The University’s value of integrity mentions specifically that all of us commit to ‘ensure the integrity of our information, systems and processes.’ Plagiarising a policy document for which one was paid R600,000 to develop, and then claiming that this is a ‘standard procedure’, goes against the value of integrity, and the integrity of information and documents that Christian Adendorff has admitted to the Daily Dispatch to have plagiarised.
• Nelson Mandela University’s Policy on the Management of Private Work states that ‘employees engaged in private work that brings the University name into disrepute may be disciplined in terms of the University’s disciplinary code.’ While the private work of an adjunct professor does not necessarily require permission of the University, the private work of adjunct professors should not bring the University name into disrepute.
• Nelson Mandela University’s Employee Disciplinary Procedure and Code states that bringing the University’s name into disrepute or plagiarism are considered very serious offences and the recommended sanction for the first offence is dismissal. This, as per the Policy on Conferring Honorary, Emeritus, Ad Personam, Visiting and Adjunct Professorial Titles, applies to adjunct professors and their conduct within and outside the University.
• According to Nelson Mandela University’s Policy on Conferring Honorary, Emeritus, Ad Personam, Visiting and Adjunct Professorial Titles, the University ‘reserves the right to revoke’ adjunct professorial title ‘and accompanying privileges where there is evidence of dereliction of duty, conduct likely to bring the University into disrepute, conduct unbecoming the post on the part of the title holder, or violation of any of the University’s codes of conduct.’

We believe that academic integrity, credibility and ethical behaviour are the most important principles that must be protected at Nelson Mandela University. We hope, and expect, that the University will act swiftly to investigate and deal with this matter. We believe that Christian Adendorff’s stealing of others’ intellectual property and plagiarism must lead to his complete dismissal from Nelson Mandela University.