Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has revealed that 20 unregistered medical practitioners were arrested across South Africa during the 2025/2026 financial year, in a crackdown that has exposed serious gaps in healthcare oversight.
The arrests were carried out through joint operations between the Health Professions Council of South Africa and the South African Police Service, following a parliamentary inquiry.
All suspects have since appeared in court.
Among the most alarming cases is that of a Midrand-based imposter who allegedly practised as a doctor for nearly 10 years without qualifications. The individual, reportedly a 50-year-old foreign national, was arrested on 28 January 2026 after a tip-off from community members.
He was found consulting patients at a local clinic, raising concerns about how he managed to evade detection for so long.
Motsoaledi acknowledged the seriousness of the breach, noting that authorities are intensifying efforts to identify and remove unregistered practitioners from the system.
However, the revelations have sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny over the effectiveness of regulatory safeguards.
Questions are now being raised in Parliament and among the public about patient safety, as well as what support will be offered to individuals who may have been treated by these bogus doctors. Affected patients have been advised they can pursue civil claims.
The Department of Health has yet to release full details on the remaining cases, but officials insist that ongoing operations will continue as part of efforts to restore trust in the country’s healthcare system.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
