Pressure Group Operation Dudula has vowed to continue blocking undocumented foreigners from receiving medical care at public healthcare facilities, despite their meeting with Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi and senior health officials on Monday.
This as the group is adamant that illegal migrants are adding pressure to the already overburdened healthcare system.
Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, the group’s president Zandile Dabula said the meeting with Motsoaledi failed to address their major issue of foreign nationals’ access to healthcare services.
“Our operation will continue, because remember Dr. Motsoaledi is not helping us in any way, so that’s the same reason we are continuing.
Even if he came up with a suggestion to say he will speak to Leon Schreiber, Home Affairs Minister, to see how best we can put probably immigration officers, but we unfortunately didn’t reach that agreement.
So, we need to continue.
Somebody will come and do their job while finding us there.
We are ready to back off if somebody comes and does their jobs as law enforcement agencies to make sure that healthcare facilities are only accessed by South Africans,” vowed Dabula.
Dabula said that they remain firm on their goal to protect South African’s rights and ensure public services priorities South Africans first.
The group defended its member’s failed attempt to shut down the Lilian Ngoyi Community Health Centre in Diepkloof on Monday, same place where some of their members were arrested last week.
“Somebody would say it’s against the law because obviously this is a lawless country. I mean we are merely trying to make sure that law enforcement agencies are doing what we are currently doing, but because they don’t care, they are arrogant, they would not listen to the outcry of their own citizens, they are not doing their work. We have been stationed outside health facilities for almost two months now, we have never seen them doing anything about it, instead they would rather send police to come and arrest us,” said Dabula.
The group has accused foreigners of taking advantage of South Africans, who it described are always understanding of challenges facing them in their countries of origin.
“Section 17 of the Immigrant Act says when you are a migrant you need to have a medical visa certificate, here I am talking about somebody who is documented, what that means is that you will have funds available to pay for your own medical expenses. Now we shouldn’t even be entertaining issues of illegal foreigners because they are here against the law in the first place, but if it is an emergency we will treat them, because life comes first, and later hand them over to the authorities to process them. Public health facilities are reserved for South Africans, and they are more than welcome to utilize private health facilities, they can pay for their medical expenses,” emphasised Dabula.
Meanwhile, Motsoaledi has cautioned the group against blocking foreign nationals from accessing health services in the country.
Motsoaledi’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale, said that they discouraged the group from contravening the country’s laws, especially section 27 of the constitution, and the national health act.
“We understand their concerns, but we tabled our position in terms of the limitations to ensure that we provide healthcare service to everyone in the country.
“We did tell them, but we said unfortunately according to the current laws of the country, our hands are tied so we cannot be seen violating the same laws we are supposed to uphold,” explained Mohale.
