Dr Wouter Basson has turned to the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, asking for a permanent stay of Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) misconduct proceedings against him.

Basson is a medical doctor and former South African Defence Force officer who led the apartheid government’s secret chemical and biological warfare programme in the 1980s, known as Project Coast

What the Case is About

The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is pursuing misconduct charges tied to Basson’s alleged involvement in Project Coast-era activities. In his court papers, Basson argues the allegations relate to his conduct as a soldier rather than a doctor and that there was no doctor-patient relationship involved.

It is reported that the charge sheet includes allegations involving research, manufacture and distribution of “irritating and incapacitating substances” for crowd control. A further allegation relates to capsules allegedly made available to specialised operators to enable suicide if captured, if they chose to do so.

Basson has denied that the purpose of the inquiry is to protect the public and says he has an “unblemished record” as a medical practitioner since 1976.

Why Basson Says it Must be Halted

Basson’s legal team argues the matter has been hit by repeated delays and that time has damaged his ability to defend himself. Complaints were launched around 2000 but the first inquiry only started in 2007, according to court arguments referenced in the case.

He also points to the stretch from 2007 to 2019, when a court ordered committee members to recuse themselves, as another major cause of delay

A key part of Basson’s argument is that his expert witness, former SADF Surgeon-General Daniel Knobel, has since died. He says he cannot find another expert to replace him.

What Happens Next

Basson was found guilty of unprofessional conduct in December 2013. Sentencing proceedings began in January 2015 but were later halted by a recusal bid. A new committee was constituted in 2023 and the matter was due to be heard in 2024 before the latest court application stalled it again.

The HPCSA is opposing the permanent stay, arguing the long delay is not its fault and that the hearing should continue in the interests of justice