Durban resident Crispin Hemson, 77, a former director of the Centre for Non-violence at the Durban University of Technology, alleges he was violently assaulted by members of the March and March Movement at Addington Hospital after he refused to provide his ID at the hospital’s gate.

The incident took place on Thursday outside the hospital’s gates, where the group has been stationed for weeks, demanding IDs from individuals they suspect are not South Africans.

Hemson posted a video on his Facebook account showing him being aggressively denied entry by a man and a woman. 

In the video, two people, believed to be part of the March and March Movement – can be seen pulling Hemson by force at the hospital gate. 

A woman is also seen pointing at Hemson and saying, “Ngizokushaya,” which translates to “I will beat you.”

“I had to go to Addington Hospital twice recently,” Hemson told IOL News. 

“I was trying to get a surgical appliance form, which I eventually received with the help of the wonderful staff in physiotherapy. But when I first went, people at the gate insisted I show my ID, which I refused.”

Hemson said the people claimed they recognised him from a previous visit where he had also refused to produce identification.

“They have no legal right to ask for ID,” he said. 

“They were swearing at me, making false claims about the Constitution, and threatening me.”

For six weeks, March and March members have camped outside Addington Hospital, demanding IDs and blocking those they suspect are not South Africans. In Gauteng, the anti-foreigner group Operation Dudula has been doing the same in the past weeks.

He eventually called Point SAPS for help.

“I only got in because the police sent a van to tell these people I could enter,” he said. 

“That’s ridiculous. It’s a basic right to access health care.”

Hemson said one woman from the March and March group followed him into the hospital, falsely accusing him of trying to collect medication for foreign nationals.

“She followed me all the way to physiotherapy. Only when I sat with the other patients did she give up,” he said.

Inside the hospital, Hemson said he spoke with other elderly patients who shared similar experiences of being denied entry due to not having or refusing to show IDs.

“I later went to hospital management to report it,” he said.

“They told me they couldn’t control what happens outside their fence.”

Hemson said that the South African Constitution guarantees the right to access health services without discrimination.

“When I went back, I met a group of documented foreign nationals who were also being blocked. These people are enforcing their own discriminatory rules,” he said.

After the incident, Hemson said he went to the Point Police Station to open an assault case but the police refused to assist him.

“They obstructed me completely,” Hemson said. “When I tried to explain, they said, ‘No, no, no, we’re not going to listen.’ A detective told me they only act when instructed by the Minister of Police. 

“I asked, ‘So when there’s a housebreaking, do you wait for ministerial approval to respond?’ It’s nonsense.”

He described the situation as “sinister,” saying, “It’s authoritarian and anti-democratic. Nobody has the right to act as if they’re in charge of our public spaces.”

Hemson said he will write to Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi and incoming Police Minister Professor Fizon Cachalia, urging them to intervene in what he called a blatant violation of constitutional rights.

“There are South Africans being denied access to health care simply because they forgot their ID or refused to show it,” he said. 

“This affects not only foreigners. It’s a threat to everyone’s rights.”

IOL News reached out to March and March Movement leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, but multiple calls went unanswered. Her response will be added when available.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda denied Hemson’s allegations.

“We don’t respond to allegations,” Netshiunda told IOL News.

“As for the claim that detectives at Point SAPS refused to assist him… that’s not true. There are no detectives stationed at the charge office.”

KZN Department of Health spokesperson Agiza Hlongwane promised to provide a statement clarifying the department’s position.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News

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