'They deserve love and respect': Archbishop Jwara slams denial of healthcare to foreigners
The Catholic Archdiocese of Durban has condemned ongoing disruptions at South Africa’s public healthcare facilities, where groups like Operation Dudula and March and March have been blocking undocumented foreigners from accessing medical treatment.
In a statement, Archbishop Siegfried Mandla Jwara said these actions are contrary to gospel values and called on authorities to act swiftly to protect vulnerable patients.
“I would like to take this opportunity to lend my own voice in support of the marginalised who suffer the injustices of persecution and rejection based solely on their being foreign nationals,” said Jwara
“I do so, having been moved by the plight of those who come to our country, a beacon of liberty and hope for many, seeking refuge under our flag. They are to be treated with love, respect, and afforded every right as is available to them to seek treatment in situations that require medical intervention”.
The Archbishop’s remarks come amid growing tensions in several provinces, particularly Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, where vigilante groups have been preventing foreign nationals from accessing healthcare in the country’s public facilities.
These movements argue that public health facilities are overwhelmed and should prioritise South African citizens.
Earlier this month, three women linked to Operation Dudula were arrested at Lilian Ngoyi Clinic in Soweto for disrupting maternity services and demanding identity documents; however, they were charged but later released on warning.
IOL previously reported that National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola confirmed that there was no dedicated police unit to deal with Operation Dudula and other movements around the country that are blocking undocumented foreigners from accessing healthcare services.
“On Operation Dudula, we don’t have a unit specifically to deal with them. We have Public Order Policing (POP) countrywide, and their job is to deal with crowd management,” Masemola said.
According to SAPS, the POP Unit is responsible for maintaining public order, managing public gatherings, major events, and protests.“So wherever there are problems, they do go out and assist,” Masemola explained.
“They cannot wait at a clinic just in case something happens – they have a lot of other work to do. But as and when we have an indication that there may be a problem, we will respond to those health institutions accordingly.”
mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za
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