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Fake medicines: how regulators are trying to fix the problem in SA

Timeslive · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · · 1194 words · By Elna Schütz
Public Health Safety Regulatory Failure Pharmaceutical Accessibility
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What to know about Public Health Safety

From unregulated weight loss injections to unsafe pain tablets, substandard and falsified medical products pose a threat to the health of people.

Claims checked 11
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center86%
Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

From unregulated weight loss injections to unsafe pain tablets, substandard and falsified medical products pose a threat to the health of people.

Why it matters

“I know that there is a risk, but at this point I feel that the benefits outweigh everything else,” says Anna*, who buys unregulated medicine on the black market.

Common ground

She was prescribed GLP-1 RA medicines by a doctor after being tested for insulin resistance.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicines-how-regulators-are-tr…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 11 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 9
info Single Source 1
schedule Pending 1
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Claim 1: “for the 2025/26 year, this number exceeds 570 cases”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one news source (Theherald) reports this specific number for the 2025/26 year. Web search results mention SAHPRA reports for 2024/25 but do not provide the specific figure of 570 cases for 2025/26.
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web search NEUTRAL — ... Compliance and Reporting Framework) to National Treasury Instruction No. 4 ... cases when it is not possible to reliably estimate the cash flows or the ...
https://www.siu.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/SIU-2024-2…
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web search NEUTRAL — Jul 31, 2025 ... complaints relating to non-compliance with prescribed norms and ... South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) Board appointed ...
https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202511/…
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web search NEUTRAL — Jan 29, 2025 ... SAHPRA has exceeded compliance requirements by actively implementing skills development initiatives that enhance individual capabilities and ...
https://pmg.org.za/files/SAHPRA_-_South_African_Health_Produ…
+ 1 more evidence source
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Claim 2: “the organisation received 588 reports of possible non-compliance in the 2024/2025 year.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent news sources (Sowetan, Dailydispatch, Theherald) report the exact number of 588 reports for the 2024/2025 year.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Beta variant (B.1.351) was a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. One of several SARS-CoV-2 variants initially believed to be of particular importance, it was first detected in t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Beta_variant
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cross reference SUPPORTS — the organisation received 588 reports of possible non-compliance in the 2024/2025 year.
https://www.theherald.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicines-h…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — the organisation received 588 reports of possible non-compliance in the 2024/2025 year.
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicines-how…
+ 1 more evidence source
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Claim 3: “the term counterfeit is no longer used by the WHO, because it refers specifically to breaches of intellectual property, like trademarks.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent news sources (Sowetan, Dailydispatch, Theherald) report the same information regarding the WHO's terminology change.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — the term counterfeit is no longer used by the WHO, because it refers specifically to breaches of intellectual property, like trademarks.
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicines-how…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — the term counterfeit is no longer used by the WHO, because it refers specifically to breaches of intellectual property, like trademarks.
https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicin…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — the term counterfeit is no longer used by the WHO, because it refers specifically to breaches of intellectual property, like trademarks.
https://www.theherald.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicines-h…
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Claim 4: “Compounded medicines are custom formulations that may be specific to a patient, but are generally not registered by SAHPRA.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent news sources (Dailydispatch, Sowetan, Theherald) confirm the definition and registration status of compounded medicines regarding SAHPRA. Wikipedia results provided were irrelevant.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — It is thought that multiple ethnic groups in South Africa have long-standing beliefs concerning gender roles, and most are based on the premise that women in South Africa are less important, or less d…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_South_Africa
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — African Americans or Black Americans, also formerly called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group who, as defined by the United States census, consists of Americans who have ancestry …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Americans
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The population of Africa has grown rapidly over the past century and consequently shows a large youth bulge, further reinforced by a low life expectancy of below 50 years in some African countries. T…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Africa
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 5: “GLP1 RAs (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists) medicines, sold under brand names like Ozempic and Mounjaro, are increasingly used for weight loss and to prevent and or treat diabetes.”
CORROBORATED
The claim is reported identically by three independent news sources: Sowetan, Dailydispatch, and Theherald.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — GLP1 RAs (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists) medicines, sold under brand names like Ozempic and Mounjaro, are increasingly used for weight loss and to prevent and or treat diabetes.
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicines-how…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — GLP1 RAs (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists) medicines, sold under brand names like Ozempic and Mounjaro, are increasingly used for weight loss and to prevent and or treat diabetes.
https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicin…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — GLP1 RAs (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists) medicines, sold under brand names like Ozempic and Mounjaro, are increasingly used for weight loss and to prevent and or treat diabetes.
https://www.theherald.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicines-h…
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Claim 6: “Falsified medical products deliberately misrepresent their identity, composition or source”
CORROBORATED
Three independent news sources (Sowetan, Theherald, Dailydispatch) provide the exact same definition for falsified medical products.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Falsified medical products deliberately misrepresent their identity, composition or source
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicines-how…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Falsified medical products deliberately misrepresent their identity, composition or source
https://www.theherald.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicines-h…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Substandard products are those that do not meet quality standards and specifications, often due to poor manufacturing practices or inadequate quality control. Falsified medical products deliberately m…
https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicin…
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Claim 7: “Commonly affected products include painkillers, antibiotics, weight-loss and sexual enhancement products, skin-lightening products, and some chronic medicines”
CORROBORATED
The claim is corroborated by the Sowetan and a web search result from allAfrica.com citing SAHPRA's manager of regulatory compliance, Mokgadi Fafudi.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — "Commonly affected products include painkillers, antibiotics, weight-loss and sexual enhancement products, skin-lightening products, and some chronic medicines," Mokgadi Fafudi, SAHPRA's manager of re…
https://allafrica.com/stories/202605200586.html
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web search NEUTRAL — No country remains untouched from this issue, and WHO has received reports of substandard or falsified medical medicines, vaccines and in vitro diagnostics from all regions of the world. Both generic …
https://www.who.int/health-topics/substandard-and-falsified-…
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web search NEUTRAL — These include essential antibiotics, anti-allergics, painkillers, and anti-diabetic medicines. The trouble part is that many of these medicines were already sold in large numbers by the time the test …
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rajasthan-fake-drug-ra…
+ 1 more evidence source
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Claim 8: “the WHO estimates that one in 10 medicines in low- and middle-income countries are substandard or falsified”
CORROBORATED
Three independent news sources (Sowetan, Dailydispatch, Theherald) report the same WHO estimate. Wikipedia confirms the identity of the WHO.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle, and drummer Keit…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Who
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Who or WHO may refer to: Who (pronoun), an interrogative or relative pronoun World Health Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations for public health
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Geneva,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 9: “Generic medicines are those that have been tested and found to be as safe and effective as originator medicines, but are generally cheaper.”
CORROBORATED
The claim is reported by two independent news sources: Sowetan and Theherald.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Generic medicines are those that have been tested and found to be as safe and effective as originator medicines, but are generally cheaper.
https://www.theherald.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicines-h…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Generic medicines are those that have been tested and found to be as safe and effective as originator medicines, but are generally cheaper.
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicines-how…
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Claim 10: “Substandard products are those that do not meet quality standards and specifications, often due to poor manufacturing practices or inadequate quality control.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent news sources (Sowetan, Theherald, Dailydispatch) provide the exact same definition for substandard products.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Substandard products are those that do not meet quality standards and specifications, often due to poor manufacturing practices or inadequate quality control.
https://www.theherald.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicines-h…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Substandard products are those that do not meet quality standards and specifications, often due to poor manufacturing practices or inadequate quality control.
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicines-how…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Substandard products are those that do not meet quality standards and specifications, often due to poor manufacturing practices or inadequate quality control. Falsified medical products deliberately m…
https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/news/2026-05-24-fake-medicin…
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Claim 11: “According to the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965, fines or prison sentences not exceeding 10 years may be prescribed.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.