EFF slams “politically motivated” HPCSA over Dr Tlaleng fine

UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng has maintained that her personal expressions, both online and offline, do not in any way affect her professional integrity or responsibilities as a medical practitioner.

She made the comment when asked to react after the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) imposed a R10 000 fine on her for “inappropriate language on social media” following a complaint by the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF). 

The SAZF noted that their complaint concerned posts on social media platform X, where Mofokeng allegedly “vilified Israel and Jewish supporters using racist, derogatory, and profane language”.

“In January 2025, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a brief delay in the Gaza ceasefire, Dr Mofokeng... posted on X (formerly Twitter): “F** you Netanyahu.”

“When UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer called on the United Nations to take action, she replied: “You white man. Evil scum. Voetsek.”

The SAZF said the remarks were a "serious breach of professionalism and decorum".

The matter was considered by the First Medical and Dental Committee of the Preliminary Inquiry at a meeting on September 11. 

“The Committee resolved that there is evidence unprofessional conduct on the part of Dr Mofokeng in terms of Regulation 4(9) of the Regulation Relating to the Inquiries into alleged unprofessional conduct under the Health Professions Act 1974; and to: Impose as a penalty a fine of R10,000 in terms of Sec 42(1)(d) of the Health Professions Act for bringing the profession into disrepute for using inappropriate language on social media,” the HPCSA finding read. 

Mofokeng has 30 days from the October 16 decision to appeal. 

She told the Cape Times on Thursday that her legal team was considering their options. 

"My legal team is reviewing the HPCSA’s ruling and considering all available options. I will make no further comment on the decision at this time. My personal expressions, both online and offline, do not in any way affect my professional integrity or responsibilities as a medical practitioner,” said Mofokeng. 

The EFF criticised the HPCSA’s decision as “politically motivated,” saying Mofokeng’s social media posts did not “threaten patients, violate medical ethics, or compromise her clinical responsibilities”.

“This decision is baseless, politically motivated, and represents a dangerous precedent for professional regulation in South Africa. The HPCSA’s statutory mandate, under the Health Professions Act 56 of 1974, is to protect the public and guide the medical professions in matters of ethical practice and patient care. It is not an instrument for policing political expression or punishing doctors for exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of conscience, belief, and expression.”

The HPCSA did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.

Cape Times