The GOOD Party is calling for urgent action against an allegedly irregular and unqualified medical practice exploiting the healthcare vacuum in Atlantis, putting lives at risk and undermining trust in the health system.
A chronic lack of access to adequate provincial healthcare has left the community of Atlantis vulnerable, and into that void stepped Sister Olivia Pharo, a retired nurse hailed by some as a local hero for opening a private clinic using her own retirement funds.
The South African Nursing Act provides that a properly qualified and registered professional nurse may practise as a nursing “practitioner”, but subject to having the regulated qualifications and being registered with the South African Nursing Council (SANC). While her intentions may have appeared noble, it is alleged that she may not be medically qualified, nor legally registered, to perform many of the medical services she offers. This is a substantial health risk for those who trust her offices with their health concerns.
According to whistleblowers, Pharo’s clinic operates outside the boundaries of professional and legal healthcare practice: issuing medical certificates, dispensing medication, conducting occupational assessments, and training others without the necessary legal authority or qualifications.
Concerns about Pharo’s activities were first raised with the Western Cape Department of Health in June 2024. The department referred the matter to the South African Nursing Council (SANC), which has yet to take any visible action. SANC’s inaction is deeply troubling and represents a failure of oversight that endangers lives.
Atlantis, a historically marginalised and economically disadvantaged community of 60,000 people, is served by just one 28-bed hospital, Wesfleur, operating from temporary facilities for more than 40 years. During previous oversight visits, residents told the GOOD Party they feel abandoned and underserved, despite repeated promises from the Western Cape provincial government to build a permanent hospital with adequate staff and resources.
Sr Pharo has operated in the area since 2019. both the Western Cape Department of Health and concerned individuals have called on SANC to investigate further, yet the Council remains inactive and unresponsive.
The GOOD Party has again written to the Western Cape Health Department and to the SANC, demanding immediate intervention to protect our most vulnerable residents from exploitation disguised as care.
We owe it to the people of Atlantis and communities across the Western Cape to ensure that only properly qualified and legally compliant healthcare professionals are entrusted with public health.
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