Under-fire Stellenbosch doctor denies allegations of opioid abuse

A doctor already under investigation for allegedly firing a gun in Technopark, Stellenbosch, has rejected further allegations that he misused the Schedule 6 opioid, pethidine.

Western Cape police confirmed the 42-year-old Dr Pieter Henning was arrested for allegedly discharging a firearm in a municipal area on November 5. 

“He appeared in the Stellenbosch Magistrates’ court on November 7, 2025, where the case was remanded until 30 March 2026,” police spokesperson, Wesley Twigg said. 

According to the incident report of a local security company, seen by the Cape Times, they received a burglary signal on November 5 after 9pm. 

On arrival they allegedly found an intoxicated male with a firearm in his hand. 

“We immediately dispatched back up vehicles to the premises as the response officer confirmed the front door glass was also damaged.”

Police were subsequently called which led to Henning’s arrest. 

In an interview with the Cape Times, Henning said that evening he received a distressing phone call from a person close to him being transferred from a private hospital to Helderberg State Hospital. 

“The person pleaded for my assistance and I immediately went. I was alone at my home and had packed my shooting gear in my vehicle for a planned training event the following day. An explanation of my handling of my firearms, as well as a video taken 20 minutes prior to the shooting incident, will show you that I remained calm despite being verbally abused.”

According to Henning, following the incident, he voluntarily surrendered his firearm to the security company which “threw me to the ground, tied my hands behind my back and continued to pepper spray me until I started vomiting”.

Further to the latest incident, a report was also lodged with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), by a whistleblower who alleged Henning had abused Pethidine, an opioid pain-relief medicine. As a Schedule 6 medication, it is used for pain relief after an operation and may be used for the relief of labour pains. 

Henning denied the allegations, and said they were allegedly made by a former employee of a medical corporation that no longer has any association with Keystone Radiology. 

In the whistleblower statement seen by the Cape Times, it laid out events between October 10 and 20, where they became aware of the doctor’s alleged drug misuse. 

The whistleblower's statement detailed a call from a pharmacy about a prescription for Pethidine, where they were informed “he cannot have more as he already got Pethidine from them on Friday October 10”. 

A few weeks later, he was back in George to perform biopsies. His first biopsy was scheduled for 1pm. Shortly after 12pm, Henning allegedly went into the bathroom for a few minutes. At the time, an employee was in the kitchen adjacent to the bathroom and allegedly observed Henning exiting without flushing the toilet, which raised suspicions. He was later allegedly seen disposing of contents in the dustbin which turned out to be open ampoules of Pethidine lying on top of the waste.

The ampoules were cracked open and identified as pethidine. Henning then allegedly proceeded to perform biopsies on patients. 

Henning said he "strongly denies" the allegations and maintains they remain unproven. 

“You will see in the attached documentation that I have numerous urine, blood and hair follicle tests showing no drug abuse. The reason for the regular testing was because of an unrelated custody dispute, which is currently ongoing and the reason why I cannot give further comment about the matter. I continued to perform biweekly drug testing following the allegations.

“No adverse findings have been made against me by any court, regulator, or professional body.  While reference is made to an HPCSA process, it is well established that such investigations are confidential and procedural in nature. The mere referral to the HPCSA does not constitute findings of misconduct. Until today, I have never been contacted by the HPCSA and they will only consider whether the case merits investigation in January. The allegations were made by employee(s) of a medical corporation which no longer has any association with Keystone Radiology.”

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

Cape Times