Police arrested a self-described traditional healer in Fourways, northern Johannesburg on Friday on allegations that he illegally dispensed prescription medicines, police said.
Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini said the 38-year-old man would appear in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges relating to the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act.
Dlamini said the man was arrested at his house, which was used as a surgery, in Kingfisher Street by the Johannesburg organised crime unit working in conjunction with law enforcement officers from the Department of Health.
His arrest was the culmination of an investigation which began months ago. It was alleged that the man bought prescription medicine, mixed it with traditional medicine and administered it to patients at his surgery.
Various medicines falling under schedules one to seven of the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act were seized at his surgery, as well as 500 patient files.
Police said an advertisement board on the premises stated that the man claimed to treat patients suffering from diseases including cancer and HIV/Aids.
It was believed that the man had other unregistered surgeries elsewhere in the country. – Sapa