Whistle-blower tip exposes EPWP workers selling stolen abortion tablets in Orange Farm
A client who bought stolen abortion tablets assisted investigators by identifying the suspects who sold the medication to patients.
A whistle-blower's tip led to the discovery of three Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers suspected of selling stolen abortion tablets at an Orange Farm clinic in Johannesburg. The police have arrested the three female EPWP workers, who are currently detained at the Orange Farm Police Station and set to appear in court on Monday.
The three suspects allegedly stole two boxes of Cytotec tablets and 24 loose tablets from the Stretford Community Health Centre in Orange Farm. The theft occurred after they broke a padlock securing the medication cupboard during an incident on August 24. A client who purchased the stolen tablets assisted investigators in identifying the individual responsible for selling the medication to patients waiting in the CTOP queue at the clinic.
Gauteng department of health (GDoH) spokesperson Steve Mabona emphasized that the swift arrest is crucial to protect patients and safeguard public health resources. He also warned the public against purchasing termination of pregnancy medication from unauthorized sources, stressing that such illegal operators often promise quick, cheap, and discreet services but expose women to serious health risks, including incomplete abortion, severe hemorrhage, infections, uterine perforation, and even death.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
