A medical doctor, who is facing charges for allegedly raping a 21-year-old patient and sexually assaulting a 22-year-old pregnant patient, was on Friday arrested for another rape case against a family friend.

Dr Justice Mulaudzi, 41, was arrested on Friday by Makhado police after he allegedly raped a family friend while on a return trip from Polokwane to Thohoyandou.

Makhado police spokesman Captain Maano Sadike confirmed the arrest of Mulaudzi.

In October last year, Mulaudzi was released on R30,000 bail by the Thohoyandou Magistrate Court after a patient laid a charge of rape that was followed by another case within a week.

In granting Mulaudzi bail, magistrate Ronald Muthambi said the doctor was facing a Schedule 5 case - in which bail is granted on condition that it will not prejudice the state's case.

Muthambi said then the state has failed to advance strong reasons to convince him that releasing Mulaudzi on bail could hinder the right to a fair trial.

In the first case, the victim claimed the accused raped her while consulting at his private surgery at Ha-Makhuvha near Thohoyandou. The victim reported the case immediately. In the second case the victim broke the silence after news reports about Mulaudzi's first alleged rape.

The embarrassing cases against the doctor led the provincial department of health to suspend him as head of Hayani Hospital.

He is expected to appear in the Makhado Magistrate's Court today.