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Three arrested for allegedly stealing and selling abortion tablets at Joburg clinic

By Mapaballo Borotho

Three arrested for allegedly stealing and selling abortion tablets at Joburg clinic
Image @istock images
  • Three suspects have been arrested for the alleged theft and illegal sale of Cytotec tablets at Stretford Community Health Centre in Orange Farm, Johannesburg.
  • Gauteng Health says the tablets were allegedly stolen from a medication cupboard before being sold to patients seeking legal termination-of-pregnancy services.
  • The three women are expected to appear in court on Monday, 31 August 2026.

Three suspects have been arrested for the alleged theft and illegal sale of abortion tablets at Stretford Community Health Centre in Orange Farm, Johannesburg.

The Gauteng Department of Health says the arrests are a significant step towards protecting patients, safeguarding public healthcare resources and ensuring that those who seek to profit from the unlawful sale of state medication face the full might of the law.

“The arrests follow an incident on 24 August 2026 in which Cytotec tablets, used as part of legal Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) services, were allegedly stolen from the facility. The suspects allegedly stole two boxes of Cytotec tablets and 24 loose tablets after breaking a padlock securing a medication cupboard,” said Gauteng Health spokesperson Steve Mabona.

Following information received from a whistleblower, a sting operation was conducted, leading to the arrest of one of the suspects who allegedly sold the stolen medication to clients waiting for legal termination of pregnancy services at the facility.

“A client who had purchased the tablets assisted investigators by identifying the individual who sold the medication. Further investigations led to the implication of additional accomplices,” said Mabona.

All three suspects, who are female Expanded Public Works Programme workers, were arrested on Thursday, 27 August 2026, and detained at Orange Farm Police Station.

They remain in custody and are expected to appear in court on Monday, 31 August 2026.

Mabona added that crimes of this nature undermine the integrity of the public healthcare system and place the health and lives of patients at risk.

The public has been urged not to purchase termination-of-pregnancy medication from individuals or through any process that does not involve professional medical practitioners at healthcare facilities, where the necessary steps for a legal termination of pregnancy are followed.

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