Alleged assault of man (77) reignites access to public healthcare debate
This incident, as well as similar events involving civil society groups physically barring individuals from medical institutions, has thrust the issue back into the spotlight.
The alleged assault of an elderly Durban man has once again shone the spotlight on the debate around who has the right to access public healthcare facilities.
On Thursday, July 24, Durban resident, Crispin Hemson (77), the former director of the Centre for Non-Violence at the Durban University of Technology, shared a troubling experience at Addington Hospital. Hemson recounted being pushed and shoved, and denied entry by individuals standing outside of the hospital because he refused to produce an ID, despite holding an appointment card.
This incident, as well as similar events involving civil society groups physically barring individuals from medical institutions, has thrust the issue back into the spotlight. Hemson described aggressive people outside of the hospital, who barred him from entering, which forced him to seek police intervention.
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He said he observed that undocumented foreigners, legally documented migrants, South Africans born abroad, babies born to immigrant parents, and South Africans without ID cards were all being blocked from care.
When Hemson approached Point SAPS to open an assault case, he said he was dismissed and told that only a directive from the Minister of Police would prompt action.
Hemson plans to write to the Ministers of Health and Police to ask how such violations of the constitution will be addressed, calling the situation a systematic attempt to pit one group of poor people against another.
Speaking on this matter, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has reiterated that all citizens, refugees, permanent residents, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, stateless persons, and children, are constitutionally entitled to basic healthcare, including emergency treatment, regardless of documentation.
The KZN Department of Health has echoed these sentiments, maintaining that foreign nationals are entitled to access public healthcare.
Organisations allegedly behind the barring of people from accessing healthcare, facilities, March and March, and Operation Dudula, will on Friday, August 1, take to the streets to protest against the surge of undocumented immigrants.
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March and March said the demonstration is a response to the government’s failure to curb illegal immigration.
Marchers will gather at King Dinuzulu Park at 7am and begin marching to Durban City Hall at 9am, where a memorandum of demands will be handed over to provincial government leaders.
