A bogus South African doctor was arrested at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital on Sunday after she attempted to solicit a bribe from a patient before assisting them.
The Gauteng Department of Health has since issued a warning to the public not to fall prey to bogus healthcare professionals following the Sunday night incident.
The so-called Dr Zulu, who was photographed wearing green scrubs, demanded that an escort to a patient pay R700 before she could assist
the patient. “The member of the public became suspicious when the bogus doctor, advised her to meet at the pedestrian gate where the said payment was to be made.
The escort notified the security personnel, who eventually apprehended the bogus doctor at the hospital’s pedestrian gate, “the department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said.
It is further alleged that when asked to produce her Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) registration number and a persal number by security and facility management, the bogus doctor was unable to do so. “A case was opened at Diepkloof Police Station.
The bogus doctor spent a night in custody and is due to appear at the Orlando Magistrate Court. The health department urges the public to be vigilant by not falling for such scams.
The healthcare workers in the facilities will never ask members of the public to pay them directly.
If there are any fees payable in the hospital, this will be done at patient administration and an invoice will be issued to indicate exactly what the patient is paying for.” Modiba added.
Also read: Australian Tourist Missing in Zimbabwe
Last year, the fake Dr Matthew Lani was arrested at the Helen Joseph Hospital for impersonating a medical doctor. He was apprehended by security personnel when entering the main entrance of the hospital at night.
According to the department, he asked to go to the toilet, where he attempted to escape through the window.
The 27-year-old influencer has claimed in the past to be one of the youngest medical students to have graduated from Wits University, which the institution said was not true. He gained a huge following on TikTok after he began sharing medical advice and his experiences as an alleged HIV/Aids doctor.
