Thokozile Mnguni
The search for quick weight-loss solutions has become increasingly common, but health experts warn that some products sold outside approved channels may carry serious health risks.
Unregistered weight-loss medicines were seized during a raid at a pharmacy in Silverton, Pretoria. The inspection was carried out by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC).
The operation focused on products containing Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, and a combination of both substances. All injectable stock found on the premises was confiscated.
Inspectors found that the facility was producing and distributing the medicines on a commercial scale while presenting the activity as compounding. Compounding is only permitted when medicine is prepared for a specific patient with a valid prescription, and inspectors said the operation exceeded those limits.
A number of safety and compliance concerns were identified, including the illegal importation of active pharmaceutical ingredients, a lack of testing for quality and potency, and unsafe sterile production practices.
Inspectors also found inadequate equipment for aseptic preparation, poor environmental controls, and no proper ventilation or air conditioning in the production area. No system was in place to monitor or report possible side effects linked to the medicines.
Reports of adverse reactions, including hospitalisations, have also been linked to similar products. All seized medicines are being recalled from pharmacies and distribution channels.
SAHPRA said compounding cannot be used to disguise large-scale manufacturing of unregistered medicines. Chief Executive Officer Dr Boitumelo Semete Makokotlela said illegal medicines pose a serious risk to public health, adding that enforcement action against unlawful production and distribution would continue.
SAPC Chief Executive Officer Vincent Tlala said further disciplinary steps would follow, and those involved could face serious sanctions, including removal from the professional register. He added that patient safety would not be compromised.
Some residents said social pressure and body shaming are contributing to demand for unregulated weight-loss products. A resident from the Tshwane CBD said desperation is driving many people to seek quick fixes.
“It’s painful the way we humiliate overweight people and call them names,” she said. “Every fat person is trying to get a quick fix. I wish people could stop body shaming.”
Another resident said health risks are often ignored. “I had a friend who didn’t care what medicines she used. She was tired of all the mockery and took the route of using medicines that were unhealthy. Yes, she lost weight, but she became sick afterwards,” she said.
A third resident said cruel comments about body size can push people towards dangerous choices. “Some people are just cruel. Just yesterday I heard men calling an overweight lady ‘winter stock’. Remarks like these push overweight people, especially women, to use these kinds of medicines,” he said.