Health council rejects ethics complaint against Grosvenor bombing doctor

THE complaint of unprofessional and unethical conduct laid by Afriforum against Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo and Lieutenant-General Vejaynand Ramlakan has been rejected by the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA).

Both men were involved in numerous bombing incidents in 1985, including the bombing of Grosvenor Girls High School, for which Dhlomo supplied the materials.

HPCSA complaint lodged against Bluff school bomber

AfriForum CEO, Kallie Kriel said the HPCSA decision is a political decision, without a sound legal basis. “AfriForum has asked its legal team to formulate arguments and submit it to the HPCSA in order for them to reconsider their decision. Our legal team will also be asked to look at the possibility to review the HPCSA’s decision in court, should they continue to refuse to reconsider the matter.”

According to AfriForum, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which tried both men, only offers amnesty in criminal and civil actions, not ethical procedures.

“Section 31 of the ‘TRC Act’, which the HPCSA relies on in its decision, specifically refers that evidence before the TRC can’t be used in ‘criminal procedures’. The HPCSA can’t use this section to dodge its responsibility to look at ethical issues. Even if they don’t want to use evidence before the TRC, evidence is also available elsewhere.

Our complaint was laid to protect the constitutional principle of equality before the law. The HPCSA can’t act selectively on the conflict of the past. The protection of the principle of equality before the law can’t be bypassed by the HPCSA,” said Kriel.

– erinh@dbn.caxton.co.za