A medical doctor operating in the district of Mbizana, Zonke Mrenqwa-Mazwi (42) was granted R10 000 bail following her first appearance in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday, February 16 on charges of fraud.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali said that Mrenqwa-Mazwi was charged with fraud for claims related to an amount of R18 million fraudulently solicited from the Road Accident Fund (RAF).
“It is alleged that Mrenqwa-Mazwi 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 2008,” Tyali said.
He added that 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.
Tyali further added that 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 doing so, she caused the attorneys to prepare and submit fraudulent claims, he said.
“RAF investigators revealed that she 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.”
Tyali said the potential prejudice suffered by RAF is R18,5 million, which could have been paid out to the 179 claimants had the scam not been uncovered.
The case has been set for March 28, 2022, for the state to furnish the defence with docket contents and for a trial date to be set.
– ISSUED BY NPA
