A Zimbabwean national, Chihoho Taurai (42), will remain in custody and next appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on June 15 following his arrest by the Hawks this week.

Taurai was arrested after it was found that he was practicing as a dentist in Polokwane without being registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

Provincial Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke says they received information from the HPCSA about a man who was practicing as a medical doctor without a license and followed up.

“The team tactically visited the surgery and found the suspect treating patients as if allowed by the law. After failing to produce a licence to practice as a medical doctor, the suspect was placed under arrest,” he says.

Taurai appeared briefly in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court yesterday where he was also charged with contravening the Illegal Immigration Act.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi confirmed that Taurai worked at a medical practice registered in the city.

“As a result, he contravened section 17(1) of the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974. Members of the public are encouraged to report all suspected illegal practices by unregistered persons,” she says.

Malabi-Dzhangi says the matter was postponed for further investigation.