PSA accuses medical council of political bias in case against Tlaleng Mofokeng
The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is facing backlash after the Palestine Solidarity Alliance (PSA) accused it of acting unlawfully and politically against United Nations special rapporteur and medical doctor, Tlaleng Mofokeng.
In a strongly worded statement on Thursday, the PSA condemned what it called the “unfair and unlawful actions” of the regulator, arguing that it had overstepped its legal authority by targeting Mofokeng for her political and human rights views. The group said the HPCSA had “no mandate to regulate the personal or political expressions of its members” and described the move as “politically motivated” and defamatory.
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The PSA claimed elements within the council had been “influenced by pro-Zionist lobbyists” seeking to discredit officials who expose Israel’s alleged war crimes in Gaza. It said such actions risked aligning the council with those facing international criminal court warrants for “crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide”.
The statement further criticised the HPCSA for what it called “silencing dissent” instead of speaking out against the destruction of Gaza’s health system, including the deaths of medical workers and attacks on hospitals. “The council should be defending the right to health, not punishing those who do,” the PSA said.
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Mofokeng, known widely as Dr T, has been the UN special rapporteur on the right to health since 2020, becoming the first African woman to hold the post. She also serves on the board of the International Partnership for Microbicides and lectures in law at Georgetown University. Her work on gender equality and reproductive health has earned global recognition, including from Forbes Africa and the BBC.
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The PSA demanded that the HPCSA reverse any sanctions imposed on Mofokeng, issue a public apology, and review its disciplinary procedures “to eliminate political bias and ensure transparency”. It also called for an investigation into South African medical professionals who support or serve in the Israeli Defence Forces.
Describing Mofokeng as “a moral conscience for justice”, the group urged South Africans, particularly within the medical community to “reject intimidation and stand for human rights”.
“Justice for Dr Mofokeng,” the PSA said, “is justice for every South African who refuses to remain silent in the face of oppression.”
