A 39-year-old South African man has appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court to face multiple charges related to the use of fraudulent medical credentials. The accused,
During his court appearance on Wednesday, Dayanand was formally charged with forgery and fraud. He also faces counts related to violations of the Health Professions Act and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act. Following the proceedings, the court granted him a release on a warning, and the matter has been adjourned until November 19, 2026.
Details of the Academic Fraud Allegations
According to information provided by KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo, the investigation centers on Dayanand’s academic history at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Records indicate that he attended the institution between 2007 and 2015, pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree. Although he was academically excluded in 2013 due to poor performance, he was granted readmission in 2015 under the discretion of the dean. Despite this opportunity, he reportedly failed to complete a final required module.
Authorities allege that Dayanand conspired with an unidentified official at the university to manufacture a fraudulent academic transcript. This document purportedly claimed he had successfully completed all necessary coursework. Furthermore, it is alleged that he obtained a fake degree certificate to facilitate his registration with the
