Should the constitution be amended to deny illegal foreigners access to public health care?
The SAHRC said all South Africans, including documented and undocumented migrants, have a right to access health-care facilities, citing section 27(1) of the constitution, which states that: 'Everyone has the right to have access to health-care services, including reproductive health care.'
The commission emphasised denying foreigners access to clinics and hospitals is unlawful and unethical, despite challenges faced by the public health system.
This sparked outrage among social media users. ActionSA condemned the 'abuse' of South Africa's public health-care system by illegal foreigners, citing stricter laws in other countries that require proof of medical insurance before entering. It said the constitution must be rebalanced to put South Africans first while honouring basic humanitarian obligations in a lawful manner.
'It is unconscionable that a public clinic in Johannesburg can report that more than 70% of its patient records belong to foreign nationals,' ActionSA MP Lerato Ngobeni said. 'South Africa's constitution must reflect the reality of our limited capacity and place the wellbeing of its citizens at the centre.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mail & Guardian
3 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Joblessness drives blesser relationships
(Graphic: John McCann/M&G) Transactional relationships put girls and young women at risk of HIV and psychological harm This content is restricted to subscribers only . Join the M&G Community Our commitment at the Mail & Guardian is to ensure every reader enjoys the finest experience. Join the M&G community and support us in delivering in-depth news to you consistently. Subscription enables: - M&G community membership - independent journalism - access to all premium articles & features - a digital version of the weekly newspaper - invites to subscriber-only events - the opportunity to test new online features first Already a subscriber?
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
SAHRC warns against blocking health care access to foreigners
SAHRC says denying access to health services based on nationality is unlawful. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has issued a strong warning to individuals and groups obstructing access to health care for non-nationals. It said such actions violate the constitution of South Africa and could lead to legal consequences. Earlier this week, the commission reaffirmed that 'everyone has the right to have access to health care services' as enshrined in section 27(1) of the constitution. On Friday, the March and March group movement, focused on forcing the government to remove undocumented foreigners from the country, is at Addington Hospital. The group is denying access to anyone without citizenship or legal asylum seeker papers 'Protest is not xenophobic' Speaking to eNCA, March and March chairperson Teresa Nokele confirmed that her group was stopping people outside the hospital. 'We do give them entrance when it's severe,' she said. 'But if you're just coming for a headache or basic meds, sorry, we're not going to allow that.' She insisted the movement is peaceful and denied that the protest was xenophobic. However, she admitted to exercising 'discretion' based on whether patients could speak English and whether they appeared 'really in need'. 'If you cannot speak English, we're not going to deny that fact… But we use our own discretion,' she said. ALSO READ: Home Affairs launches Operation New Broom to tackle illegal immigration No one may act as gatekeeper to clinics The commission stressed that the constitution does not qualify or limit this right based on immigration status or citizenship. 'Furthermore, in accordance with section 27(3), no one may be refused emergency medical treatment,' it said. The commission expressed concern over growing reports of foreign nationals. This includes undocumented migrants and refugees being denied treatment at public healthcare facilities or being blocked from entering by individuals claiming to enforce immigration laws. 'It is important to note that no civic group or individual has the legal authority to control access to public health facilities or to enforce immigration laws,' the statement read. 'Only the department of home affairs, with the support of Saps, has such authority.' The SAHRC urged law enforcement agencies to monitor the situation closely and prevent tensions from escalating into violence. It also encouraged frustrated members of the public to channel complaints about access to health care through appropriate departments or by lodging formal grievances with the commission. ALSO READ: Tip-off leads police to at least 90 illegal foreigners in abandoned Houghton property Health care eligibility in South Africa According to the SAHRC, access to health care is guaranteed to a broad group of people, including: South African citizens Refugees and asylum seekers Documented and undocumented migrants Stateless persons and children People in detention and vulnerable populations The commission highlighted that many health care facilities are already under strain due to shortages of staff and resources, but discrimination is not a lawful response. 'Health care professionals have an ethical duty to treat all patients with humanity and impartiality,' the SAHRC said. The commission reaffirmed its commitment to engaging with health authorities to address systemic challenges while upholding the rights of all individuals in South Africa. 'Manning hospital entrances and blocking people based on nationality is a violation of human rights,' the SAHRC warned. NOW READ: WATCH: Kenny Kunene closes crèche, says homeless foreigners destroying bridge in Joburg CBD
The Herald
a day ago
- The Herald
Former president David Mabuza dies
Former deputy president David Mabuza has died. TimesLIVE understands Mabuza died on Thursday but the details of his death were still unclear at the time of publishing. Mabuza died at a hospital in Sandton after an illness following his poisoning when he was still premier of Mpumalanga. It is understood that President Cyril Ramaphosa has been alerted by Mabuza's family and is expected to make an announcement. Mabuza was deputy president of SA from 2018 until 2023 after the ANC conference in 2022 elected his successor Paul Mashatile who was eventually sworn in as his replacement. 'He has been sick, so he was in hospital in Sandton and when he died. His wife was still in Mpumalanga, so she was notified and had to travel this side, but it is now out there before the wife could arrive,' said a senior government official. Ramaphosa is expected to release a statement announcing the news of Mabuza's passing shortly. Insiders in the Presidency said they were still discussing whether Ramaphosa would still address the nation after releasing the statement.
