The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has found the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, guilty of misconduct.
The decision followed a complaint from the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) regarding Mofokeng’s remarks, which were considered offensive and unsuitable for a medical practitioner.
Angie Segal, the spokesperson for the SAZF, said Mofokeng’s statements “vilified Israel and Jewish supporters using racist, derogatory, and profane language”.
“In January 2025, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a brief delay in the Gaza ceasefire, Dr Mofokeng, serving as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, posted: ‘F** you, Netanyahu.’
“When UN Watch executive director Hillel Neur called on the United Nations to take action, she replied: ‘You white man. Evil scum. Voetsek’,” said Segal.
The organisation welcomed the decision to take disciplinary action against Tlaleng. Segal said this move upholds the integrity and accountability of South Africa’s medical profession.
She said the ruling might be on Tlaleng’s behavior but believes it exposes wider bias and hostility among UN officials.
“The ruling sends a clear message: South African professionals who use their platforms to spread hate, racial slurs, or incite hostility will face consequences,” said Segals.
“Professional standing carries a duty to act with impartiality, ethics, and respect for all communities.
“Those who exploit their status to promote prejudice or hatred undermine not only their credibility but also the institutions they represent,” she added.
Professionalism comes with responsibility
Segals said Tlaleng’s office has been cited in South Africa’s International Court of Justice case against Israel, and questions were raised about the impartiality of UN-sourced reports.
“This decision therefore underscores the growing concern that individuals entrusted with global human rights mandates are abusing their positions to advance partisan, defamatory, or discriminatory agendas.
“It follows another controversy earlier this week, when UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese was served with legal papers for defamation after making false and inflammatory remarks against a Christian organisation during a speech at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
“Albanese accused them of complicity in ‘genocide’, comments widely condemned as defamatory and prejudiced,” said Segals.
She added that professionalism comes with responsibility, especially for those in public service and international representation, and further urged all South Africans to uphold values of respect and inclusivity, particularly when speaking or acting in their professional capacities.
