Patients cautioned to check doctor’s experience after alleged sexual assault

The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has encouraged patients to question practitioners over their certificates as it intends to investigate allegations of a sexual assault that allegedly occurred at a Pretoria CBD hospital recently.

This comes after the South African Police Service were on the hunt for a gynaecologist, who is believed to be on the run, due to allegations of sexual assault.

Pretoria Central police spokesperson Augustinah Selepe said they were investigating two cases of rape against a locum doctor.

“At this stage, we can’t give details on the suspect as he is not arrested and an investigation is ongoing.”

The allegations caused a stir on Friday last week, as a picket was held in the Pretoria CBD at two hospitals, calling for the shutdown of a specialist doctor’s practice.

It is alleged that the doctor employed a gynaecologist to perform locum duties at his practice, when a sexual assault allegedly occurred with his regular patient.

Picket organisers, civil rights movement #NotInMyName secretary-general Themba Masango alleged that the supposed doctor sexually assaulted two women, who are students, on two separate occasions.

Police confirmed that the suspect was on the run after having a rape charge levelled against him.

According to Masango, the doctor sexually assaulted one woman at a Pretoria CBD hospital recently, and another (a Tshwane University of Technology student) at a Pretoria West hospital in 2020.

The two victims are believed to be in their early 20s.

“The doctor has since switched off his phone and is on the run.”

Masango alleged that the doctor who employed the supposed gynaecologist failed to run a background check before appointing him as locum. When a return patient arrived at the CBD-based hospital for her second consultation, the suspect examined her for the first time.

“When she arrived, the accused doctor did all the processes rendered before by the doctor who owns the practice, however, after the check-up he instructed her to go to a private room and remove all her clothing,” relayed Masango. He indicated that this was when the suspect allegedly sexually assaulted the victim.

#NotInMyName demanded that the appointing doctor’s offices close pending the outcome of the investigation.

“We cannot afford to have doctors who are unprofessional, hire people willy-nilly off the street and have more rape patients seeking medical assistance.

“Who else can we trust if even doctors are perpetrators?”

Masango said #NotInMyName became involved in the matter after the alleged rape victim and the fiancé, sought assistance from the organisation.

“This fake doctor needs to be brought to book before he continues to do this to other people.”

Masango has also since taken steps to lay a complaint with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) over the doctor who employed the rape accused doctor. The association has not yet commented.

Spokespersons from the hospitals and practice(s) where the appointing doctor’s offices are located, indicated that they were aware of #NotInMyName’s demands, but could not comment due to ongoing police investigations.

Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba, said the department took allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace very seriously.

“The matter was looked into and the investigation found that the doctor had not in fact committed sexual harassment, however, his behaviour was inappropriate and disciplinary measures were taken against the doctor. Due to employer/employee relationship we cannot divulge the measures against the doctor.”

HPCSA spokesperson Christopher Tsatsawane said the council was aware of the matter and condemned the employment of unregistered persons.

He said negligence by hospitals and doctors hiring unqualified members exposed patients to harm.

“Both practitioners and hospitals have a duty to ensure that locums are registered with the relevant regulatory body.”

Tsatsawane said members of the public were encouraged to pose a direct question to the practitioner, asking for confirmation of registration with HPCSA.

“A registered practitioner would point to a certificate on the wall as well as show their practicing card.”

He said that any complaint regarding allegations of employment of unregistered persons would be investigated by the council.

“The preliminary committee of inquiry will make their own findings based on the investigation and an appropriate sanction will be imposed if there is evidence of unprofessional conduct.”

Rekord will follow this developing story as investigations produce more information.

The accused doctor and appointing doctor did not respond to Rekord’s calls for comment.

The HPCSA did not comment on whether the alleged doctor was registered with the council or not.

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