Police hunt for bogus student doctor 'with a stethoscope and fake papers'

A 24-year-old man hoodwinked Mamelodi Hospital into accepting him to work as a student doctor while he did not have qualifications.

For a full month, the man carried a stethoscope and reported daily for duty at the hospital as a student doctor from one of SA's medical schools, SowetanLIVE reports..

The man, identified as Richard Phumlani Magudulela, is now wanted by police for impersonating a student doctor after using what was later discovered to be a fraudulent letter bearing the letterhead of the University of KwaZulu-Natal to convince the hospital to take him in.

Dr Naing Soe, CEO of the hospital, said Magudulela started on September 29 and was last seen on October 31 as the hospital had been doing background checks on him.

Soe said when Magudulela first came to the hospital, he found a manager "who was generous and kind" and wanted to help him secure space as a student doctor.

Magudulela's letter "from UKZN" was later discovered to be fake.

"As the hospital's CEO I'm appealing to the public to help the police arrest this man because he must face the law for what he did," said Soe.

The hospital and the provincial department of health have since launched an investigation into the matter.

Soe said student doctors always worked under the supervision of highly qualified doctors and were not allowed to attend to patients on their own.

"So far the hospital has not received complaints from patients about getting wrong treatment [from the fake medic].

"Since November 1, when the hospital discovered the truth about the young man, he has never shown his face at the hospital. The man has been barred from entering the premises but I'm afraid he could still dupe unsuspecting community members as he always carries the fraudulent documents and a stethoscope."

The hospital is now on a campaign to warn all its patients against Magudulela.

A patient at the hospital, who didn't want to be named, said: "I'm glad the bogus doctor was exposed before he could ruin people's lives."

Mamelodi East police spokesperson Const Lethabo Mashiloane confirmed that a case of impersonating a medical doctor has been opened. She said the police were appealing to the public to assist with any information regarding Magudulela.