University of Pretoria's top student heads to court to prove his innocence

Lesego Maphanga, 24 , a top Industrial Engineering Degree student of the University of Pretoria, Johannesburg who claims to have been unlawfully suspended for cheating during exam is heading to the court to prove his innocence.

The University found Lesego guilty of cheating and suspended him for two years and afterwards cleared him during a disciplinary hearing but slammed him with having to repeat the module.

Lesego who strongly denied the charge said “I took out a water bottle and a highlighter out of my bag during an exam and one of the charges laid upon me was to have unauthorized material in an exam"

“With my track record it makes no sense that I would do something that sinister."

“We proved in a DC hearing that I didn't cheat. It's my career, it's my future, my goals.

"To take the university to court, it's been emotionally, physically and mentally exhausting. It's been very expensive, but to prove my innocence it's definitely worth it," he said.

The University intends to oppose the court application as it stands on its decision to suspend Lesego insisting correct procedures were followed during the disciplinary hearing.