THE suspended Soweto medical doctor exposed by Sowetan for practicing illegally is threatening a protest march to our offices next week.

Dr Gabaza Ngobeni was suspended by the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) for failing to pay her annual fees.

Ngobeni continued practicing even after the suspension and was exposed for operating illegally.

She has accused Sowetan of writing lies about her even though the HPCSA confirmed that she was operating illegally.

This is the same woman who in 2005 accused UDM leader Bantu Holomisa of fathering a child with her.

She later demanded over R5,000 per month for maintenance from Holomisa and R10,000 to settle her debts she said she accumulated after quitting her job to look after their son.

Holomisa was reluctant to discuss Ngobeni's utterances and made it clear that he did not want to discuss the matter. "Why don't you deal with her? I don't understand why you are involving me in this matter," Holomisa said.

In the first of the many e-mails she sent to Sowetan after the story, Ngobeni accused Sowetan reporter Lerato Moeketse and photographer Mabuti Kali of defaming her. "I have been with the medical council (for) 16 years ... you think you yourself (sic) and the camera can change that in 2 seconds?" she asked.

Ngobeni has now threatened to take her fight to Sowetan after it emerged that she has been operating her practice in Diepkloof without a licence.

Attempts to get hold of Ngobeni were unsuccessful yesterday as her mobile phone was on voice mail.

According to the HPCSA registrar and acting chief executive, Dr Kgosi Letlape, Ngobeni is currently operating illegally.

"This practitioner is registered with the HPCSA as a medical practitioner in the category Independent Practice," said Letlape. "(But) she is currently suspended for failure to pay annual fees ..."

Sowetan editor Mpumelelo Mkhabela said the paper stood by its story. With regard to the planned march, Mkhabela said Ngobeni was free to exercise her rights in terms of the law.