Police have arrested a 54-year-old Cuban national medical doctor for stealing medication at a hospital in Limpopo.
Dr Yamilet Castaneda appeared before the Thabazimbi Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 23 October 2025.
She was arrested earlier this month after returning from Cuba.
Charges
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said Castaneda is facing a charge of theft of medication from Thabazimbi Hospital.
“She was released on warning, and the case was postponed to Tuesday, 28 November 2025, for further investigation.”
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Stealing meds
Ledwaba said the incident occurred when a security officer at the hospital’s main gate conducted a routine search and found unauthorized medication in the suspect’s bag.
“The suspect was taken back to her office, where additional medication was discovered during a further search.
“The matter was reported to the police, and following investigations, the suspect was arrested upon her return to South Africa on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, after reportedly travelling to Cuba,” Ledwaba said.
Illegal smartphones seized
Last week, the South African Police Services (Saps) seized illegally imported smartphones, mainly Apple iPhones, Samsung gadgets, and mobile phone accessories valued at more than R17 million.
Officers also seized two-way radios, IMEI and ICASA labels during a takedown operation conducted in Fordsburg, Johannesburg this week.
Police said a multidisciplinary team acted on intelligence indicating that illegally imported electronic devices and related items were being stored and sold at a Fordsburg mall.
Operation
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the operation comprised members from the Saps Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, border policing, the Johannesburg Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), and private security personnel.
“More than a thousand non-type-approved devices and related items were confiscated for being in contravention of the Customs and Excise Act and the Electronic Communications Act.”
A non-type-approved cell phone is any device that has not been certified by Icasa.
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