News24 | ‘Bogus doctor’ to take axing on review after termination of DA membership

The DA terminated Abdulkader Elyas’ membership with immediate effect following a Federal Executive meeting on Wednesday evening.

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• The DA terminated Abdulkader Elyas' membership with immediate effect following a Federal Executive meeting on Wednesday evening.
• Elyas admitted to providing false information about his qualifications and was the subject of a fresh internal probe, having previously been sanctioned by the party in a 2024 disciplinary agreement.
• The Federal Legal Commission found that Elyas had failed to comply with the conditions of the 2024 sanctions, leading to the termination of his membership.

The DA has terminated the membership of bogus doctor Abdulkader Elyas with immediate effect following a lengthy meeting of the party’s Federal Executive on Wednesday evening.

Elyas, who admitted to providing false information about his qualifications, was the subject of a fresh internal probe and was previously sanctioned by the party.

The Federal Legal Commission subsequently recommended termination of membership.

The recommendation was adopted by a vote of 16-8, according to information obtained by News24.

The decision comes despite support for Elyas from senior DA figures and follows mounting pressure on the party to act against him.

News24 previously reported that Elyas was ranked fourth on the DA’s proportional representation candidate list for the City of Cape Town ahead of the 2026 local government elections, behind mayoral candidate Geordin Hill-Lewis, JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg.

READ | ‘Bogus doctor’ DA councillor faces fresh probe, but is still in race for Cape Town seat

His ranking came despite a 2024 disciplinary agreement in which he pleaded guilty to five charges relating to false or inaccurate information about his qualifications.

The University of Cape Town previously said that Elyas had not completed the qualifications in medicine and actuarial science that he had attributed to himself, while the Health Professions Council of South Africa said he had been registered as a medical student but had never progressed to registration as a qualified medical practitioner.

The 2024 disciplinary agreement provided for the termination of Elyas’s DA membership, but that sanction was suspended subject to certain conditions. It also imposed restrictions on his ability to stand for party or public office and required remedial measures, including a psychological assessment and an ethics course.

The matter was subsequently referred back to the DA’s Federal Legal Commission after questions were raised over whether Elyas had complied with the conditions of the agreement and whether his subsequent role in the party’s Western Cape campaign team was permissible.

The DA’s Federal Executive had been expected to consider the matter after the Federal Legal Commission recommended action against Elyas two weeks ago. However, the matter was subsequently removed from the agenda.

READ | ‘Bogus doctor’ saga pulled from DA agenda as pressure mounts on party to act

News24 understands that the Federal Legal Commission ultimately found that Elyas had failed to comply with the conditions of the disciplinary sanctions, resulting in the termination of his DA membership.

Elyas has indicated that he intends to challenge the decision.

In a message sent to the party on Thursday morning, which News24 has seen, Elyas disputed the basis for the termination and said he had been advised that the decision was flawed and irregular.

“By now, you may have seen an article that indicates the Fedex has chosen to terminate my membership. My understanding is [that] this is based on an FLC ruling that indicates my contribution to the party, in my campaign management role in the Metro and Province that I was appointed to by the party, is a violation of the party’s disciplinary outcome, which required me not to stand for any position – which I do not believe I did,” he said.

According to Elyas, the party previously confirmed in writing, and through legal opinions it had obtained, that campaign management roles that are appointed rather than elected did not constitute a violation of the disciplinary outcome.

READ | DA’s ‘bogus doctor’ sparks fresh internal row

Elyas also claimed the decision followed “a month of coordinated leaks and media pressure”.

“The advice I have received is that this is a flawed ruling and irregular decision, and I should interdict it and take it on review. I have engaged my lawyers to do so,” he said.

Despite his expulsion, Elyas said he remained committed to the DA.

“I enjoy what I do. I love the DA and have devoted the last five years of working to make the most successful campaigning blue machine it can be,” he said.