The South African government has issued a stern condemnation of community-led attempts to block foreign nationals from accessing public healthcare, calling the actions unlawful, unconstitutional, and a dangerous breach of democratic values.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) emphasized that every person in South Africa—regardless of nationality or immigration status—is entitled to access healthcare, as protected under the Constitution.
“Taking the law into one’s own hands is unacceptable and undermines the values enshrined in our democratic Constitution,” the statement read.
The condemnation follows reports of rising tensions at several clinics where foreign nationals were reportedly intimidated or turned away by community members frustrated by overcrowded facilities and strained medical staff. While the government acknowledged these pressures, it urged communities to channel grievances through lawful and structured forums, not through acts of vigilantism.
In response to escalating tensions, the South African Police Service (SAPS), working with the Department of Health, has begun deploying Public Order Police units to affected facilities to maintain peace and ensure uninterrupted services. Authorities have warned that anyone found threatening patients or disrupting clinics will face arrest and prosecution.
At the same time, the government reiterated its dual commitment: while it will continue to enforce immigration laws and target undocumented individuals in coordinated operations with the Department of Home Affairs, it also remains focused on strengthening the public healthcare system for all—citizens and migrants alike.
This firm stance signals an urgent call to preserve human dignity and constitutional protections, even as the country grapples with the real challenges of limited resources, overburdened systems, and immigration complexities.
