Residents of Midrand are in a state of shock following the arrest of a 50-year-old Pakistani national who has allegedly been posing as a registered medical doctor for over a decade. The woman was apprehended at a clinic on South Road after the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) received a tip-off about her suspicious activities. The dramatic arrest took place on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, when the JMPD Tactical Response Unit conducted a surprise raid on the facility.
Upon entering the clinic, officers found the suspect actively consulting with two unsuspecting patients. When asked to produce her South African Health Professions Council (HPCSA) registration or a valid medical practice number, the woman was unable to provide any legal documentation. During the subsequent interrogation, the suspect made a series of chilling admissions.
She confessed that she had never actually completed her medical studies and held no recognized degrees or qualifications. Most alarmingly, she revealed to the officers that she had been illegally treating patients and issuing medical advice for more than 10 years without any valid authorization.Police searched the premises and seized a significant amount of incriminating evidence. This included six patient files containing sick notes, prescriptions, eye screening certificates, and Public Road Transport Permit (PRDP) medical certificates.
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Many of these documents were found bearing the names of different registered doctors, suggesting a sophisticated fraudulent operation involving the theft of other practitioners’ identities. The suspect has been charged with fraud and contravention of the Health Professions Act. She remains in police custody pending a formal court appearance. This case highlights the persistent threat of “bogus doctors” around the world and serves as a reminder to the public to verify the credentials of medical professionals before seeking treatment.
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