By Kopano Dibakwane
A joint intelligence driven operation conducted by the Middleburg-based Hawks’ serious organised crime investigation team and the Health Professions Council of South Africa ( HPCSA), led to the arrest of foreign national – Ilunga Pierre Mwenze(38) at Med 24 in Hendrina on 5 April.
Mwenze subsequently appeared before the Hendrina magistrates’ court on Tuesday (11 April), facing charges of practicing as a health practitioner while not registered with the council in terms of the Health Practitioners Act.
According to the spokesperson of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, captain Lucy Sekgotodi, the suspect was monitored by the police for some time and was finally found on duty.
“The said doctor was interviewed by the HPCSA inspectors who discovered that he was not registered with the council as a medical practitioner. However, the ‘doctor’ allegedly informed the inspectors that he had his registration papers and he was instructed to produce the papers but he failed. He was then arrested and charged with contravention of the Health Professions Act,” said Sekgotodi.
She stated that the files of his patients were confiscated for further investigation. According to Sekgotodi, the accused was released on R5000 bail and the case was postponed to 13 April for further investigation.
