Chatsworth ‘doctor’ charged with theft after elderly woman dies while waiting for medical bed - IOL

Dusrathia Singh, 86, died while waiting for the medical bed.

An alleged Chatsworth bogus medical doctor has been charged with theft after he allegedly took  R33,000 for a special bed for an elderly woman, who died.

Nick Holmes, founder of Voluntary Medical Response Services (VMRS), appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

This was his sixth appearance in court and he was represented by a legal aid attorney, as he said he could not afford private legal representation.

Holmes is due back in court in December. He was released on warning.

The charges were brought against him by Crossmoor resident Anand Singh, 55.

He alleged that Holmes had misrepresented himself as a medical doctor and provided services to his mother, Dusrathia Singh, 86, when she fell and was injured in June 2025.

He said his mother became incapacitated after suffering a fracture to her right femur.

Singh said he met Holmes on a group chat after he (Holmes) mentioned that he operated a free medical service to those who could not afford treatment.

He allegedly gave Holmes R5,200 for an injection and R33,000 for a modern, electric, automated bed for his mother.

However, she died while waiting for the bed.

“On June 12, 2025, my mum fell and was injured. Two days before she was discharged from Chatsmed Hospital, I found out about Nick via a group chat.

“I could not verify his qualifications but he seemed well known. I also found an article about his organisation in a local newspaper.

“When my mum was discharged, I contacted him to come home and examine her. He came home with two women, and after examining my mum, he said that she was anaemic and she needed an injection,” alleged Singh.

“He said he could source an iron injection from his supplier at a pharmacy, which would cost R5,700.”

Singh said he was under pressure from his family to care for, and provide the best medical care to his elderly mother.

He said he felt compelled to listen to the “doctor” as he had no medical knowledge.

“I also asked him if he knew where I could get a good bed for my mother, so that she did not get bed sores while being bed ridden.

“He said he could get a good, modern, electric and automated bed as he was well connected in the medical industry.

“He said the bed would cost R27,000, and I paid him via EFT,” Singh alleged.

He claimed after he paid the money, Holmes kept promising him that the bed would be delivered, and that there were problems with the supplier.

“I used my savings to admit my mother at Chatsmed Hospital, and the remainder of my savings was used for the bed and medical treatment for her.

“My mum died in July 2025, while we were still waiting for the bed. When we found out that he was not a medical doctor, I was devastated,” Singh said.