Baragwanath Hospital nabs another bogus doctor
Chris Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto has nabbed another bogus doctor. The fake doctor was arrested on Sunday, 25 February.
The Gauteng Department of Health urges the public not to fall prey to bogus healthcare practitioners after another doctor was arrested at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto.
The fake doctor was nabbed by security personnel and arrested on Sunday, 25 February.
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BOGUS DOCTOR BUSTED AT CHRIS HANI BARAGWANATH HOSPITAL
Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said a person impersonating a medical doctor was nabbed at Bara after they demanded that an escort to a patient pay R700 for the alleged doctor to assist the patient.
Modiba said the member of the public became suspicious when the bogus doctor, who was wearing green scrubs with the name Dr Zulu imprinted on the uniform, advised her to meet at the pedestrian gate where to make the payment.
“The escort notified the security personnel, who eventually apprehended the bogus doctor at the hospital’s pedestrian gate.
When asked to produce her Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) registration number and a persal number by the security and facility management, the bogus doctor could not do so,” he explained.
CASE OPENED AT DIEPKLOOF POLICE STATION
Furthermore, the Chris Hani Baragwanath team also opened a case at Diepkloof Police Station.
The bogus doctor appeared at the Orlando Magistrate Court on Monday afternoon.
The Department has urged the public not to fall for such scams.
“The healthcare workers in the facilities will never ask members of the public to pay them directly. Suppose there are any fees payable in the hospital. In that case, this will be done at patient administration, and an invoice will be issued to indicate what the patient is paying for,” Modiba added.
Recently, another bogus doctor, Matthew Lani, sent shocking waves across the country after stealing the identity of an intern doctor.
Lani was arrested, but his case was thrown out of court as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said you could not be charged for lying as lying is not an offence unless you are lying under oath.
NPA Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said there is no evidence to sustain the charge or link Lani to the alleged offence of impersonating a personality.
