The Health Professions Council of South Africa’s (HPCSA) Inspectorate Office has announced an unregistered practitioner – a foreign doctor – has been arrested in Durban. According to an IoL report, on 26 June 2019, the Inspectorate Office along with the Hawks in Durban conducted an inspection at the practice of Dr T Mndaweni, in Acorn Street. Upon arrival, the investigating team established that Mndaweni was on leave and a locum had been employed to treat patients.
The report says the locum indicated that he is a Congolese national and had been working at the practice since Monday, 24 June 2019. However, it was established that the doctor was not registered with Council. This is in Contravention of Section 17(1)(a), Section 33, Section 34 and Section 39 of the Health Professions Act 56 of 1974.
The unregistered doctor was arrested and a criminal case against him as been opened.
Before his arrest, the doctor had treated four patients. Files of the patients were seized by authorities along with a prescription he had written for one of them and will be used as evidence.
It was not clear when the doctor would appear in court.
[link url="https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/hawks-swoop-on-unregistered-congolese-doctor-in-durban-27972119"]IoL report[/link]