Doctor Busted And Charged For Fraud Against The Road Accident Fund

A medical doctor operating in the district of Mbizana, Zonke Mrenqwa-Mazwi (42), made her first appearance in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes court yesterday. She was charged with fraud relating to R18 million claims made against the Road Accident Fund (RAF), and she was granted R10 000 bail. The doctor is alleged to have submitted false Statutory Medical Reports (SMR) on behalf of RAF claimants involved in at least nine motor vehicle accidents in the Mbizana, Flagstaff and Port Shepstone areas dating back to the year 2008. One of the accidents involved a minibus taxi.

When claimants lodge a claim against RAF, the SMR must be completed on a prescribed form by a medical practitioner who treated the deceased or injured person for bodily injuries. The merits of any claim rely heavily on the correctness of the information contained in the SMR. Mrenqwa-Mazwi is alleged to have supplied false information to attorneys, claiming on behalf of victims to the effect that she was the first medical practitioner to have treated them after the accidents they were involved in. By so doing, she caused the attorneys to prepare and submit fraudulent claims.

RAF investigations revealed that Mrenqwa-Mazwi had backdated the SMRs and had never seen, examined or treat any of the claimants.  RAF referred the matter to the South African Police (SAPS) Commercial Crimes Unit, which led to her arrest. As a result of her misrepresentation, RAF suffered an actual prejudice of R510 000, which was already paid to claimants. The potential prejudice suffered by RAF is R18,5 million, which could have been paid out had the scam not been uncovered.

The case has been set for 28 March 2022, for the state to furnish the defense with docket contents and for a trial date to be set.     

Issued by:

Luxolo Tyali

Regional Spokesperson: Eastern Cape – Mthatha Division                                                                                     

0735559292