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The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is concluding an investigation into alleged improper and fraudulent conduct by Dr. Nonhlanhla Sishaba, a former senior Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME).
Dr. Sishaba’s designation expired on 31 March 2024, yet she continued issuing medical certificates in violation of civil aviation regulations.
The investigation follows a series of non-compliance and enforcement actions previously taken by the regulator. In a public statement, the SACAA revealed that Dr. Sishaba’s designation is under scrutiny due to ongoing concerns about her conduct.
“In 2023, enforcement action resulted in a penalty being issued to Dr. Sishaba for non-compliance. Her designation as DAME expired on 31 March 2024, and it has not been renewed pending the ongoing investigations,” the statement read.
However, the SACAA’s online system flagged that Dr. Sishaba continued to examine and issue medical certificates after her designation had lapsed.
Advocate Luvuyo Silandela, Senior Manager in the Legal Department, confirmed that all certificates issued by Dr. Sishaba after 1 April 2024 are now considered invalid. He urged affected license holders to undergo re-examination and certification with a valid DAME within 15 working days.
“Our investigation uncovered the alleged involvement of unauthorized personnel in conducting medical assessments and the submission of fraudulent and incomplete medical reports in the SACAA system,” Advocate Silandela said. “Some medical certificates were issued without supporting verified documents, and others were backed by what we believe to be fraudulent certificates.”
SACAA Director of Civil Aviation, Poppy Khoza, expressed serious concern over the allegations, emphasizing their potential impact on aviation safety.
“These findings are of grave concern, as they directly affect the ability of aviation personnel to perform their duties safely,” Khoza said. “While our investigations are ongoing, we cannot ignore the severity of these violations. Ensuring aviation safety is our top priority, and we will pursue all available legal measures to address this issue swiftly.”
Personnel affected by the invalid certificates include pilots, air traffic controllers, and aircraft maintenance engineers.
License holders uncertain about their status are advised to contact the SACAA Aviation Medical Department immediately for clarification and re-examination.
