A CPUT graduate says her ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ moment was stolen after a fellow student allegedly walked the graduation stage in her place, collected her degree certificate, and later posted celebratory photos online.
Thandi Javu, 22, was meant to receive her BEd in Intermediate Phase Teaching at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s (CPUT) Bellville campus on Tuesday. Instead, she says she was blocked at the door and told that someone had already checked in under her name and taken her seat.
A CPUT graduate said her graduation day turned into heartbreak after a fellow student allegedly walked across the stage in her place.
Thandi Javu was denied entry to the ceremony after security told her someone had already checked in under her name.
CPUT has launched an investigation, saying the alleged perpetrator was not eligible to graduate and might now face fraud charges.
“The bizarre incident unfolded on Tuesday at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s (CPUT) graduation ceremony at its Bellville campus, where Javu, 22, was due to receive her BEd in Intermediate Phase Teaching degree.”
Javu says she arrived at the venue with her invitation in hand, expecting to join her classmates inside the hall.
“I had my invitation with me, but security told me my seat had already been taken,” Javu added.
“I kept pleading with them, telling them there had to be some mistake, but they would not let me in.”
Graduates are required to present an invitation to gain access, and each is issued two guest tickets for family or friends. Despite having her documentation, Javu says she was left standing outside as other students and their relatives took their places.
Unable to enter the venue, she watched as other graduates made their way inside to celebrate their milestone with family and friends.
“The graduation went on without me. It was my first graduation, and I missed it. I didn’t want to cry in front of everyone, so I kept myself together and went home with my family disappointed.”
It was only later that day – long after the ceremony was over – that she discovered what had actually happened when a classmate sent her a video clip.
A fellow student, Sihle Joseph, could be seen walking across the stage when her name was called.
“The name ‘Thandi Javu’ was announced, and he walked up proudly to collect my degree,” she said. “My parents were shocked. I could not believe someone would steal such an important moment from me.”
Javu says she still has no idea how he gained access to the hall or how he was able to take her place.
Graduates are issued an invitation to gain access to the venue, along with two guest tickets for family or friends.
Javu said she still did not know how Joseph could have gained access or managed to take her place.
She added:
“I don’t know how he got my ticket or how he knew my details. None of it makes sense.”
A fellow student told News24 that many in their class were surprised to see Joseph at the ceremony at all.
“One classmate, who asked not to be named, told News24 that students were surprised to see Joseph at the graduation because he had not completed all his modules and was not expected to graduate.”
“We were shocked to see him there, but when he went on stage, we couldn’t stop him because it would have caused chaos in the hall, which would have led to us being kicked out,” the student said.
After the ceremony, classmates confronted Joseph about what had happened. According to messages seen by News24, he allegedly admitted what he had done and apologised, saying he did not want to tell his parents that he had failed.
“After the ceremony, Joseph was confronted by classmates and allegedly admitted what he had done.
According to messages seen by News24, he apologised, saying he had acted out of fear because he did not want to tell his parents he had failed.”
Despite that, he went on to post celebratory content on social media.
“Despite this, Joseph posted celebratory messages and videos on Facebook, including one captioned: ‘Hard work pays off.’ In the posts, he is seen posing in graduation attire with his family and holding the degree certificate.”
For Javu, who had paid for her outfit, make-up and transport from Strand, the day was ruined.
“‘I paid for my dress, my make-up, and transport from Strand, and all of it was wasted,’ Javu said.”
Joseph has since returned the physical certificate.
“Joseph has since returned the certificate.”
A man identifying himself as Joseph’s brother told News24 that the family had apologised directly.
“A man identifying himself as Joseph’s brother told News24 that the family had apologised to Javu.
‘Sihle regrets what he did. He is dealing with a lot, and we would like time to handle the matter as a family,’ he said.”
CPUT, meanwhile, has confirmed that both internal and criminal processes have been set in motion.
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley stated that both a criminal and internal investigation had been launched.
Kansley said:
“We are waiting on an affidavit from the victim, after which the matter will be escalated to SAPS for formal fraud charges.”
She added that Joseph was last formally registered in 2023 and was not eligible to graduate.
“She added that Joseph was last registered as a student in 2023 and was not eligible to graduate.”
Investigators are now trying to establish how he gained entry to the hall and accessed Javu’s details.
“We are investigating whether he purchased tickets from another person to gain access to the hall. Once inside, he allegedly picked up the victim’s name card and used it to walk the stage.”
Kansley said Javu’s late arrival — about three hours after the scheduled reporting time — created an opportunity that was then exploited.
“Kansley said Javu arrived about three hours late for the ceremony, leaving her seat and name card unattended, which was then exploited.”
The university says it is working with Javu to ensure there is no long-term impact on her academic record.
“The university stated that it was working with Javu to ensure she received either her original certificate or a replacement.”
But for Javu, the main loss is not a document, but a milestone she had worked years to achieve.
For Javu, however, the damage has already been done.
“‘He stole my moment,‘ she said. ’I worked for that day, and I can never get it back.‘”
Javu added that Joseph was a familiar face in class — and she had no idea he was no longer registered.
“Javu added that Joseph attended classes with her and did not know he was not registered.”
The Joseph family did not respond to further queries.
“The Josephs did not respond to News24’s follow-up questions about their son.”
As CPUT’s investigations continue, the bizarre case raises broader questions about security protocols at graduation ceremonies, the handling of name cards and tickets, and the vulnerability of major milestones to opportunistic abuse. For now, Javu is left with a degree – but no memory of the moment she was meant to walk the stage to receive it.
