Health MEC says illegal foreigners do pay for healthcare services
Gauteng’s Health MEC says South Africans shouldn’t act xenophobically toward undocumented foreigners, as some governments cover their citizens’ healthcare costs.
Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko clarified that, despite widespread belief, both legal and undocumented foreigners do pay for services at local hospitals.
She made the statement after videos and images began circulating on social media showing individuals and groups in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng blocking foreigners from accessing healthcare at clinics and hospitals.
Are South Africans xenophobic for blocking illegal foreigners from clinics?
Anti-illegal immigration groups like March and March and Operation Dudula have led efforts to mobilise citizens to block undocumented immigrants from accessing healthcare facilities, arguing that South Africans should receive priority.
They claim undocumented foreigners burden taxpayers and insist that immigrants must pay for healthcare services, just as any individual would pay for health insurance when abroad.
On Wednesday, 16 July, Nkomo-Ralehoko told TV news channel Newzroom Afrika that it is painful that people are being blocked from accessing healthcare services, and she does not agree with it.
Nkomo-Ralehoko said the constitution does not allow for illegal foreigners to be turned away when they are not well.
“I don’t agree with it, and it’s a painful story, but unfortunately, people feel that we’re not supposed to do that, and my worry is if that person dies at the gate, I should stand there and clarify to the citizens. What will I say if a heavily pregnant woman was denied access to the institution and that child, including the woman, died?
“I have to explain to the citizens, it doesn’t matter whether that person is a Malawian or Zimbabwean, when the person gets in there not well, that person must be treated. My head is the only one that is going to be on the block,” she said.
OTHER COUNTRIES PAY FOR THE CITIZENS TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN SOUTH AFRICA – MEC
In August 2022 violence flared up outside the Kalafong Tertiary Provincial Hospital between anti-illegal immigrants group Operation Dudula members and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) from Gauteng.
Operation Dudula members picketed outside the hospital and blocked immigrants from accessing healthcare, insisting they show proper documentation and pay for services.
Then-Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the government would consult embassies to explore whether they could cover healthcare costs for immigrants from neighbouring countries who use South Africa’s public hospitals.
“We will consult with embassies to see if there is a need for refunding or there could be some compensation,” he said at the time.
During her interview with Newzroom Afrika on Wednesday, Nkomo-Ralehoko emphasised the importance of agreements between South Africa and other countries around how to deal with the pressure on the public healthcare system.
“Yes, we do have those agreements…some of those agreements, the countries are paying, but the individuals that come on their own accord in the hospitals, they do pay too. There’s this notion that everybody who gets there who comes from foreign countries is not paying. It’s not true, not everyone is not paying,” she explained.