Katlego Sekhu
- A coordinated effort by the Hawks, SAHPRA, and local law enforcement led to the arrest of a 50-year-old pharmacy owner.
- Investigators found the pharmacy unregistered with the South African Pharmacy Council, with employees unable to legally dispense medicines.
- Authorities emphasised the risks posed to the public over six years of unlawful operation, highlighting the importance of inter-agency collaboration.
A joint operation between the Hawks Nelspruit-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), the Whiteriver Flying Squad, and the Acornhoek Local Criminal Record Centre led to the arrest of a 50-year-old pharmacy owner and four employees in Acornhoek on Thursday, 09 October 2025.
Two women, aged 35 and 44, and two men, aged 35 and 48, were charged with contravening the Medical and Related Substances Act and regulations relating to the Ownership and Licensing of Pharmacies Act.
The breakthrough came after SAHPRA provided information regarding unlawful activities at the pharmacy. Authorities executed a search warrant at the premises and found four employees operating behind the counter. None of them could produce the necessary qualifications to dispense medicines or operate in a pharmacy.
The owner was not present during the initial raid but was summoned to the scene. On arrival, he could neither produce a valid operating licence nor the required qualifications. Investigators confirmed that the pharmacy was not registered with the South African Pharmacy Council.
A wide range of scheduled medicines, spanning schedules 1 to 6, were seized. The Hawks are yet to confirm the total value of the confiscated stock, as further investigation and expert analysis are ongoing.
Major General Nico Gerber, Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, praised the collaborative effort of all agencies involved.
“It has been six years, since 2019, that this pharmacy has been operating unlawfully. One can only imagine how many lives may have been affected, directly or indirectly. We are pleased that the establishment has now been closed, preventing further potential harm to the public.”
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