Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said that 20 unregistered doctors were arrested in the 2025/2026 financial year for practising illegally, including one in Midrand who allegedly operated for 10 years before being caught after a community tip-off, reports The Star.
The revelations came after African Transformation Movement (ATM) MP Thandiswa Marawu asked Motsoaledi how the Department of Health had failed to spot the Midrand imposter before his arrest on 28 January, and what support was available to affected patients.
She also asked what measures were in place to verify doctors’ credentials, whether inspections would be conducted at private medical centres, and how many bogus doctors had been caught, along with the consequences they faced.
Motsoaledi said the Midrand practitioner had not been picked up earlier because he was not registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The HPCSA had received a tip-off, after which its Inspectorate Division verified the allegation, leading to his arrest.
“The HPCSA cannot initiate disciplinary action in cases like this as its jurisdiction applies only to registered practitioners,” he said.
However, practising without valid registration was a criminal offence and should be dealt with through the criminal justice system. Affected patients could also report the matter to the SAPS and pursue civil claims for damages through the courts.
“Patients are encouraged to report such matters to the Department of Health to receive appropriate assistance and access to care,” he added.
He acknowledged that identifying bogus practitioners remained difficult because of limited resources and capacity, and because some operated as organised syndicates.
A total of 49 unregistered practitioners had been arrested and appeared in court in the 2024/2025 financial year: 3 528 inspections were conducted, 651 complaints investigated, and 28 joint operations were carried out during that period.
For the current 2025/2026 financial year, more than 6 984 inspections have been conducted, 565 complaints investigated, and 31 joint operations undertaken.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Pushback against growing ‘bogus doctor’ problem
Bogus doctor arrested at Gauteng hospital
Hospital ‘pulmonologist’ with two surgeries among 18 bogus doctor arrests