The Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians (PBODO) sympathises with those healthcare practitioners affected by the public unrest that took place in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Stolen goods are making their way back into the trade, and we urge practitioners to be vigilant when being offered such items and to report them as a matter or urgency.
This crisis is a challenge to social cohesion and has further threatened to deepen racial division within communities. It is important that as individuals we both resist and fight the groundswell of racist undertones that has begun to emerge in our communities. We are encouraged by the efforts of those within the healthcare and in particular the eyecare community, who have rallied together to support and assist colleagues and friends to rebuild, restore and recover from these devasting losses.
Affected practitioners have lost both stock and equipment. While it is unlikely that much of the stolen merchandise will be recovered, some practitioners may be approached to purchase stolen goods. We appeal to practitioners to be extra careful and to bring this to the attention of law enforcement authorities. Furthermore, according to Section 36 and Section 37 of the General Law Amendment Act 62, 1955 if you are found in possession of stolen goods you may be guilty of an offence.
Last Updated on 10 September 2021 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs