South Africa anti-immigrant group blocks access to hospitals

DW (English)

Doctors without Borders has warned that an anti-immigrant group that has been keeping immigrants from accessing healthcare in South Africa could be endangering lives. "Operation Dudula" has vowed to escalate their actions by targeting schools next.

Transcript

00:00Which government? Which government?

00:03Operation Dudula Vigilantes are in the ward.

00:07This video was filmed inside a South African hospital.

00:12They are forcing immigrant patients to leave this public health facility.

00:19Confrontations like this have become commonplace at state-run hospitals.

00:25Operation Dudula are blocking immigrants from accessing health facilities.

00:28Just last week, three of the group's members were arrested for similar actions.

00:33The organization says it won't be stopped by the police.

00:38There's nothing illegal by saving your country and we will not stop.

00:41DW visited a clinic in Katlehong, east of Johannesburg,

00:46and found Operation Dudula Vigilantes conducting an illegal screening process.

00:52They were demanding the identity documents of anyone wanting to enter.

00:56The organization says immigrants should not benefit from state-funded health facilities.

01:03Our aim here, we're trying to protect our facilities in South Africa.

01:11We're coming to check the people that are coming in the clinics

01:14This woman showed her Mozambican passport and Dudula Vigilantes refused to allow her in.

01:28The security at this clinic aren't doing anything to stop these ID checks.

01:33They say it's not part of their job description.

01:35The presence of Dudula implies that anyone who can't produce identification isn't allowed into the clinic.

01:43But to be clear, there's no official government policy that says anyone has to produce identification before entering a health facility.

01:51And the South African constitution is very clear that everyone has a right to health care regardless of nationality.

01:58I challenged their regional convener with a text of the constitution.

02:04Everyone has a right to access health care services.

02:08Yes.

02:09Everyone.

02:10Yes.

02:11Including, then it continues to say, including reproductive health care.

02:16Right?

02:17Now what do you say to that?

02:18I said, they say everyone.

02:21Except the...

02:22No, there's no excepting.

02:23Okay.

02:24If they say everyone, you must understand here.

02:26If you say you're talking about everyone, the South African, nah?

02:30No, it's not talking about South African.

02:31Everyone.

02:32Everyone is open.

02:34Everyone is open.

02:35It doesn't say every South African.

02:36Yes.

02:37It says everyone.

02:38South Africa has become a hub for immigrants from other African countries seeking better opportunities.

02:45Some immigrants have made South Africa home and have had children here.

02:49I'm afraid about my baby not getting immunization.

02:52What's going to come?

02:54You see, and we don't have money to go to the private clinic because it's too much expensive.

02:59Some South Africans are concerned about the doula's actions.

03:04Some people are really sick and they don't have money.

03:08They need help.

03:09So what will happen if someone dies there?

03:15Doctors Without Borders warns of a pending health crisis,

03:19saying many of those being denied care suffer from chronic illnesses like diabetes and HIV.

03:27While the South African government has condemned the action,

03:31rights groups argue that more needs to be done.

03:33Without the police intervening, it does mean that they are colluding,

03:39that they are witnessing unlawful acts and are not taking any action.

03:44And Operation Dudula is promising to step up its actions.

03:48It plans to enter formal politics in the near future

03:51and says it will start targeting immigrant children attending state-funded schools in 2026.

03:58And they're not trying to enter the Uhp.

03:59It's been a long time.

04:02Address Olympics.

04:02For example, the Indian accent has been sold themselves in 1790.

04:04It's beenикс.

04:05So when you think about me,

04:05that I think about this,

04:05that they are not going to be in a country.

04:07But if no people think about it or not because of the law of the government,

04:10they're not going to be in a country.

04:11But they have been Uniqquad,

04:12they have been in to the police airport.

04:13And that they're lying.

04:14They're not going to be in a country,

04:15in the country where they're not going to be in a country.

04:16And so when they're being in front of them,

04:19and that the security touts and that's what they're doing,

04:20is for them to be in a country.

04:20They're not going to stop the streets.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended