Zimbabweans Denied Healthcare in SA? What's REALLY Happening!
Healthcare Crisis: Zim Nationals Face Rejection in South Africa
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) is engaging with South Africa's Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka, amid growing concerns about access to healthcare for foreign nationals, particularly Zimbabweans, in South Africa. Reports indicate that Zimbabweans are being barred from accessing essential medical services, exacerbating an already dire situation.
Groups like Operation Dudula claim foreign nationals are straining South Africa's limited resources, vowing to intensify their campaign to restrict access to schools and businesses as well. This comes as Zimbabwe's Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi stated the Zimbabwean government will not cover medical expenses for its citizens residing in South Africa.
Caught Between Two Failing Systems
Matilda Sibanda, who moved to South Africa a decade ago seeking better healthcare, now finds herself trapped between two struggling systems. Unable to access adequate care at home and increasingly rejected abroad, she voices the frustration of many Zimbabweans. "I expected to struggle for work… But being denied medical help when you’re sick? That’s inhumane," she says.
Operation Dudula, initiated in 2021, purports to protect South Africans by targeting undocumented immigrants. However, the campaign has fueled harassment, evictions, and denial of healthcare, even in emergencies. Social media is rife with videos showing pregnant Zimbabwean women being turned away from hospitals. A 2022 incident involving Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba berating a Zimbabwean patient further highlights the issue.
"Even when you are documented, they treat you like you don’t belong," Sibanda explains. "You live in constant fear of being refused help." Zimbabwean citizens are appealing for diplomatic intervention, but the official stance remains that they are responsible for their own healthcare in South Africa.
Government Response
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has reiterated that the Zimbabwean government will not fund healthcare for its citizens living in South Africa, emphasizing that migrants should regularize their stay and contribute to the host country's system. "We are currently unable as Parliament to budget for adequate health services for citizens in the country," Ziyambi stated.
He added that those who have moved abroad for better opportunities should be able to provide for themselves. This stance leaves many vulnerable Zimbabweans in South Africa facing a healthcare crisis with limited options and support.