JOHANNESBURG, August 19 (ANA) – Four foreign nationals, including a local doctor, were arrested after the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit conducted a raid on a premises used by bogus doctors in Ekurhuleni to issue medical certificates to drivers seeking to apply for professional driver’s permits (PDPs).
The Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson Simon Zwane said the unit was assisted by the Health Professions Council of South Africa, the Medicines Control Council, Medscheme and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as the Hawks) while conducting raids under “Operation Recall”.
Zwane said they used the local doctor’s practice number to conduct the alleged fraudulent business.
“The suspects are expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court to face charges of impersonating a doctor and practising medicine unlawfully. Investigations have so far showed that the bogus practitioners generated up to R8000 a day by issuing medical certificates and certifying unfit drivers to obtain PDPs,” Zwane said.
The certificates are allegedly issued without subjecting patients to any medical examination. Medically unfit driver’s with poor eye sight and uncontrolled diabetes among other ailment are unleashed onto the roads through these kinds of practices. South Africa experience a high number of accidents that can be attributed to driver fitness.”
– African News Agency (ANA)
