Latest news with #GautengHealthMEC
IOL News
06-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
SA government condemns anti-foreigner protests at healthcare facilities
Residents of Atteridgeville, grouped under Concern Tshwane Residents, are protesting outside Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital, calling for undocumented foreigners to be barred from receiving healthcare services due to the alleged strain on public resources. Image: Supplied. In a strong response to a rising tide of anti-foreigner sentiment that has erupted in Gauteng and parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the Gauteng Health MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, along with the National Department of Health and the South African government, has condemned alarming actions that prevent foreign nationals from accessing essential healthcare services. This week, members of Operation Dudula in Gauteng and members of the March and March movement began their campaign of manning the gates of government clinics and hospitals, including Addington Hospital, Gateway Clinic and RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth, in a bid to prevent alleged undocumented foreigners from accessing healthcare. In an interview with IOL, the spokesperson for the Department of Health, Foster Mohale, said while the department does not condone illegal migration, the actions of the activist groups are concerning. 'We have noted with concern illegal actions around some parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, in which individuals and organised groups prevent healthcare users, especially illegal migrants from accessing health services,' said Mohale. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Mohale also condemned those who have come to the country illegally stating: "We also condemn people who illegally cross the border into South Africa specifically to access healthcare services. 'We urge those with concerns about this societal problem to raise them within the confines of the law instead of taking the law into their own hands because you cannot solve crime through illegal activities which may end you in jail,' he said. In a statement, the government indicated that it has noted with serious concern the reported incidents where certain groups and communities have blocked foreign nationals from accessing healthcare services at public facilities. "While the government understands the genuine frustrations of many citizens regarding the pressures on public services, including overburdened clinics and exhausted healthcare workers, members of the public are urged to raise such concerns through lawful and appropriate channels. Taking the law into one's own hands is unacceptable and undermines the values enshrined in our democratic Constitution. "Such actions stand in direct violation of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which affirms the foundational values of human dignity, equality, and the advancement of human rights and freedoms. Section 27(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, clearly provides that: 'Everyone has the right to have access to healthcare services'. This right is not subject to an individual's nationality or immigration status. Denying individuals healthcare based on their origin is a violation of our laws and values as a nation. Additionally, South Africa is a signatory to several regional and international agreements that aim to ensure access to healthcare for its citizens and, in some cases, for individuals within its borders," the government said.
IOL News
21-04-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Tembisa Hospital fire: MEC reveals plans for alternative emergency services
As the investigation into the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital (TPTH) fire gets underway, Gauteng Health MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has revealed that the department has identified a space within the hospital to use as an Accident and Emergency unit. This comes after the MEC, and her team visited the hospital on Sunday to assess the extent of the damage to the Accident and Emergency Unit. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The blaze, which broke out on Saturday afternoon, prompted a swift and heroic response from the Ekurhuleni Emergency Management Team and firefighters with reports that all 81 patients were safely evacuated to another unit within the facility, with no casualties reported. The Accident and Emergency Unit at the Tembisa Tertiary Hospital remains closed while the department has identified a suitable space to be used as an alternative following the fire that broke out at the hospital on Saturday. Nkomo-Ralehoko also praised the responders for their bravery and efficiency, ensuring that the hospital remains operational despite the incident. "I wish to emphasise that the origin of the fire is still under investigation. We await the official forensic report, and we will continue to keep the public informed of all findings as we are busy now with the investigating teams from various units. Let me take this moment to once again thank the teams on the ground who have worked tirelessly since the fire incident," the MEC said. While the current unit is currently not operational, Nkomo-Ralehoko indicated that the department has identified an alternative space to be used as an emergency unit adding that there is a business continuity plan in place to ensure the continual functionality of the hospital despite the incident. As such she stated that the hospital remains on divert for ambulances while walk-ins will still be seen at the hospital. "Various services such for acutely ill patients, mother and children services, mental health and other chronic diseases will continue to be rendered at designated areas. "We have identified a space and already while I was there, the space, the lights and the oxygen points are working. We have checked an area that is similar that can work and the space is within the hospital, and we will start moving people to the space so that they start using it as an Accident and Emergency area,' she said. The MEC indicated that the unit which was recently renovated had all the measures in place to ensure it complies with Occupational Health and Safety Standards.
