The great thing about controversies is that they can assist us to put important principles under the microscope and clarify these through debate and evidence. The focused debate can also be used to identify what is really unclear, and when facts are being obscured for undeclared agendas.

I have been accused of defending fraud and this has been used to taint organisations with which I am associated: Corruption Watch and the University of the Witwatersrand. It is for this reason that I must correct the false representation of what I have said. These are the facts and matters of principle:

We all agree that misrepresentation of one's qualifications is fraud and cannot be condoned. No disagreement here. My position on this is clear on the facebook discussion which was used as the source of evidence in these attacks.

I also said, in the same discussion, that Pallo's intellectual contribution and standing is immense. I will continue to hold this position and believe it to be as true as the first statement. The first statement does not negate the second. The second does not negate the first. They are both true. On this we may not all agree

I also said, in the same discussion, that Pallo needed to clarify the situation. This he has since done - and he offered his resignation as a public representative. In my view, this was the right thing to do.

While we are on the matter of facts - let us correct the following ‘facts' referenced to me in these attacks:

I am not a leading intellectual or academic.

I do not supervise PhD students. (I do not have a PhD which is a prerequisite)

Mary Metcalfe

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