Latest news with #LeratoNgobeni
The Herald
20 hours ago
- Health
- The Herald
Should the constitution be amended to deny illegal foreigners access to public health care?
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has received backlash after raising concerns over the growing trend of illegal foreigners being denied access to public health-care services. The SAHRC said all South Africans, including documented and undocumented migrants, have a right to access health-care facilities, citing section 27(1) of the constitution, which states that: 'Everyone has the right to have access to health-care services, including reproductive health care.' The commission emphasised denying foreigners access to clinics and hospitals is unlawful and unethical, despite challenges faced by the public health system. This sparked outrage among social media users. ActionSA condemned the 'abuse' of South Africa's public health-care system by illegal foreigners, citing stricter laws in other countries that require proof of medical insurance before entering. It said the constitution must be rebalanced to put South Africans first while honouring basic humanitarian obligations in a lawful manner. 'It is unconscionable that a public clinic in Johannesburg can report that more than 70% of its patient records belong to foreign nationals,' ActionSA MP Lerato Ngobeni said. 'South Africa's constitution must reflect the reality of our limited capacity and place the wellbeing of its citizens at the centre.'
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Should the constitution be amended to deny illegal foreigners access to public health care?
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has received backlash after raising concerns over the growing trend of illegal foreigners being denied access to public health-care services. The SAHRC said all South Africans, including documented and undocumented migrants, have a right to access health-care facilities, citing section 27(1) of the constitution, which states that: 'Everyone has the right to have access to health-care services, including reproductive health care.' The commission emphasised denying foreigners access to clinics and hospitals is unlawful and unethical, despite challenges faced by the public health system. This sparked outrage among social media users. ActionSA condemned the 'abuse' of South Africa's public health-care system by illegal foreigners, citing stricter laws in other countries that require proof of medical insurance before entering. It said the constitution must be rebalanced to put South Africans first while honouring basic humanitarian obligations in a lawful manner. 'It is unconscionable that a public clinic in Johannesburg can report that more than 70% of its patient records belong to foreign nationals,' ActionSA MP Lerato Ngobeni said. 'South Africa's constitution must reflect the reality of our limited capacity and place the wellbeing of its citizens at the centre.'
IOL News
a day ago
- Health
- IOL News
ActionSA criticizes SAHRC for supporting undocumented migrants' right to public healthcare
ActionSA has hit back at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) after the organisation clarified that everyone, including undocumented immigrants, may access the country's healthcare facilities. The party claimed that there is 'abuse' of the nation's public healthcare system by undocumented foreign nationals. In a statement issued on Wednesday, ActionSA Parliamentary Chief Whip Lerato Ngobeni accused the government of enabling an unsustainable burden on healthcare facilities by allowing undocumented migrants to access services without restriction. Ngobeni argued that the 'misapplication' of Section 27 of the Constitution has overwhelmed clinics and hospitals, placing the well-being of South African citizens at risk. "It is unconscionable that a public clinic in Johannesburg can report that over 70% of its patient records belong to foreign nationals. No South African can enter another country legally without proof of medical insurance, yet here we are expected to carry this burden indefinitely," Ngobeni said. ActionSA has proposed a suite of constitutional amendments aimed at restricting access to healthcare for undocumented migrants.
