Wouter Basson: Apartheid-era ‘Dr Death’ to face new HPCSA hearing

Wouter Basson drew attention on social media earlier this year, with many responding in shock to find out that Basson is still practising medicine at MediClinic in the Western Cape.

At the time, MediClinic explained that doctors are independent practitioners and “cannot prohibit HPCSA registered doctors, including Dr Basson, from practising unless they are prevented by law from doing so”.

A new hearing for Wouter Basson

The Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) have, however, announced they would be conducting a new hearing to look at Basson’s alleged apartheid-era crimes.

The HPCSA had their finding of unprofessional conduct against Basson overturned by the Constitutional Court. Wouter Basson has been called Dr Death for his role in the apartheid regime’s chemical warfare attempts.

At the moment, it’s unclear what the actual charges against Basson will be as the HPCSA need to form a committee and then first inform Basson of the case he is to answer.

Chairperson of the medical and dental professions board, Prof Solly Rataemane, explained that the HPCSA “cannot disclose the charges” because:

“[This] still needs to be communicated with the respondent […] in this case being Dr Wouter Basson. The HPCSA cannot pre-empt the outcome of the proceedings.”

Apartheid-era crimes

The Constitutional court finding came after Basson was found guilty of unprofessional conduct at a hearing in 2013. The hearing investigated his involvement in Project Coast, an apartheid-era chemical weapons program.

The Pretoria High Court later ruled that two of the panels three members should, in fact, have recused themselves from the hearing.

The HPCSA have approached the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court to overturn the High Court finding without any success.

Basson’s response

Basson himself, who is a practising cardiologist, was dismissive of the HPCSA’s decision to recharge and also taking the opportunity to question the motives of the media in continuing to report on the case. He said to TimesLive:

“I receive no communication from the HPCSA […] I have no idea of what they do. I have no thoughts. For 18 years, I’ve had no thoughts; I still have no thoughts.”

He questioned the media’s interest in his battles with the regulator. “I don’t know what is there to report about […] this has been going on for 18 years. How long do you want to report about this […] the next 18 years?”

From the public outcry earlier in the year, it is clear that not only is their public interest but for many, there is a strong desire for Basson to be held accountable for his service to the apartheid regime.