3 EPWP Workers Arrested for Selling Stolen Termination Medication at Orange Farm Clinic
- A whistleblower's tip triggered a sting operation at the Stretford Community Health Centre in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg
- Three EPWP workers were detained at Orange Farm Police Station after Cytotec tablets went missing from a locked pharmacy cupboard on 24 August 2026
- The Gauteng Department of Health warned that buying termination medication from unauthorised sellers carries life-threatening health risks
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GAUTENG — Three Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers have been arrested after a sting operation uncovered the theft and illegal sale of termination medication at a public health clinic south of Johannesburg.
According to IOL, the breakthrough came after a whistleblower alerted authorities to suspicious activity at the Stretford Community Health Centre in Orange Farm. A patient who had purchased Cytotec tablets from one of the suspects cooperated with investigators, allowing police to identify and detain two additional workers connected to the scheme. All three women were held at the Orange Farm Police Station and are scheduled to appear in court on Monday, 31 August 2026.
How the pharmacy theft unfolded
Investigators established that on Monday, 24 August 2026, the suspects broke the padlock securing a pharmacy storage cupboard inside the health centre, removing two boxes and 24 loose Cytotec tablets. The stolen medication was then sold directly to patients seeking termination services.
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The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) welcomed the arrests, stating that the illegal trade of state medical resources poses a direct threat to public safety. Officials stressed that the case would not be treated lightly, framing it as an internal accountability matter with serious consequences for vulnerable patients.
Health risks of unregulated termination medication
The GDoH used the arrests to issue a broader public health warning, cautioning women against obtaining termination medication from unlicensed sellers. Department representatives said that sourcing termination tablets outside of official healthcare facilities exposes patients to dangers comparable to using backyard termination services.
Health officials listed potential complications from unregulated medication, including severe haemorrhaging, infections, uterine damage, infertility and, in the most serious cases, death. The department urged women to use accredited public health facilities and to report any individuals or operators offering discreet termination services outside regulated channels. It stated that the arrests reflect its commitment to protecting patients who rely on the public health system at their most vulnerable and to ensuring that state resources are not exploited for personal gain.
View a statement about the arrest on Facebook:
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Source: Briefly News
