The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has invalidated all medical certificates issued by Dr Nhlanhla Sishaba, a former senior Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME), from April 1, 2024, as part of an investigation into the doctor’s alleged fraudulent conduct.
The regulator has urged all license holders who received medical certificates from Dr Sishaba from this date to be re-examined and certified to a current and valid DAME within the next 15 working days from September 10, 2024. The situation affects crews working for various airlines, including the national carrier South African Airways
.
Issuing invalid medical certificates
In an official statement, the SACAA said it was finalizing an investigation into alleged improper and fraudulent conduct by Dr Nhlanhla Sishaba. In 2023, she was penalized for non-compliance, with her designation as DAME expiring on March 31, 2024. Her designation was not renewed pending the ongoing investigation into her conduct.
However, Dr Sishaba continued to examine and issue medical certificates beyond the period of her designation, which was flagged by the SACAA online system. Her actions demonstrated a gross violation of civil aviation regulations, forcing the SACAA to invalidate all certificates issued under her name after March 31.
Photo: Grant Duncan-Smith | Shutterstock
Further investigations revealed that non-medical and unauthorized personnel were used to conduct medical assessments and to file fraudulent and incomplete medical reports in its system. The SACAA has notified known operators who used the Doctor’s services and issued a general notice to
the broader aviation sector
. The Director of Civil Aviation, Poppy Khoza, said,
“We view these allegations in a very serious light as they have a direct impact on the ability of aviation personnel to perform their duties in a safe manner as prescribed by the CARs. South Africa’s aviation sector boasts an exemplary safety record, with no fatal accidents in the scheduled airline sector in nearly forty years. While our investigations are continuing, we cannot ignore these findings. Ensuring the safety of aviation services is our top priority, and we will
pursue all available legal measures to resolve this issue swiftly.”
The SACAA has also urged all license holders who are unsure of their status to contact its Medical Department immediately. The regulator further warns that it will not hesitate to take action against any designated personnel who abuse their power.
Violating civil aviation regulations
Under the Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs),
the Director of Civil Aviation has the authority to designate medical practitioners
to examine various aviation professionals, including flight and cabin crew, air traffic controllers (ATC), and flight engineers, to ensure they meet the minimum requirements to obtain a valid license.
Re-designation is only considered for medical practitioners who have fulfilled their responsibilities during previous designation periods. The SACAA requires DAMEs to submit completed medical assessments with supporting records to its online system for verification.
Photo: Thiago B Trevisan / Shutterstock
Under the Civil Aviation Act, aviation professionals are required to undergo regular prescribed medical assessments to ensure they are medically fit for their roles and licenses. While the system for submitting medical assessments is automated, Dr Sishaba possibly used a manual backup system to avoid detection. The regulator has called back all SACAA-related documents in the Doctor’s possession.
The national carrier, South African Airways, responded to the issue by supporting the actions taken by the country’s aviation watchdog. Dr Sishaba was employed by SAA as Chief Medical Officer but has been suspended until investigations by both SAA and SACAA are completed.