By the time 29-year-old Ettiene van Deventer returns to the Potchefstroom Magistrate's Court in April, it is expected lobby group Afriforum will have delivered its argument against the South Africa Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) calling for the approval of the blanket use of Ivermectin on human beings to treat Covid-19 in the North Gauteng High Court. 

North West Hawks spokesperson, Tlangelani Rikhotso, says the Hawks were tipped off about Van Deventer’s shop, proceeding to raid it on Tuesday 2 March.

“The said shop was searched and 10 000 anabolic steroids doses, 376 steroids doses and tablets worth approximately R200 000 were seized. Additionally, 79 boxes of Ivermectin, containing 7 970 tablets, were also seized,” says Rikhotso.

Meanwhile, a group of pharmacists have joined Afriforum’s legal battle for the approval of Ivermectin for human use. The group, known as Pharma Valu Group, will along with 55 medical doctors and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) present their arguments, calling for the usage of the drug for Covid-19 before North Gauteng High Court Judge, Cassim Sardiwalla, between 29 and 31 March 2021.

Hannes Strydom – the well-known pharmacist and owner of the Pharma Valu Pharmacy Group and former Springbok rugby player - alleges that Ivermectin is a legal Schedule 3 medicine and therefore does not require registration by SAHPRA.

AfriForum maintains that the medicine has been legal all along because SAHPRA failed to publish a notice in the Government Gazette (as the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 requires) that requires registration of Ivermectin as medicine.

OFM News