Latest news with #ZimbabweHumanRightsCommission
The South African
05-08-2025
- Health
- The South African
Jessie Majome defends Zimbabweans' right to healthcare in South Africa
Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission chairperson, Jessie Majome, has urged South Africans to show compassion toward Zimbabwean migrants. Majome has reminded all of the historic solidarity between the two nations during South Africa's liberation struggle. 'During the struggle for South Africa's independence, a lot of African countries, including Zimbabwe, hosted South Africans,' Majome said in an interview on Newzroom Afrika . Her comments come amid growing outrage over the denial of healthcare to undocumented Zimbabweans in South Africa. In recent months, protests have intensified, with groups like Operation Dudula blocking access to hospitals such as Kalafong in Gauteng. Protestors have stationed themselves outside clinics, demanding identity documents and turning away those unable to prove legal status. This is despite South Africa's Constitution guaranteeing access to emergency medical treatment for all, regardless of nationality, under Section 27. In July 2025, the South African Human Rights Commission reaffirmed that healthcare is a constitutional right. The commission condemned the unlawful gatekeeping and the ongoing policy confusion that enables some hospitals to ignore legal obligations. Legal challenges are now in motion to address exclusionary practices, particularly in Gauteng. Majome's message was clear: Africans must return to a spirit of empathy and justice. 'Some of the Zimbabweans who are in South Africa are in South Africa regularly and legitimately,' Majome said. 'But if there is intolerance and xenophobia, even those who are contributing to the economy of South Africa also bear the brand of negative attitudes, which are not helpful for South Africa. The bottom line is that we should and we can find the lasting solutions…' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
05-08-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Public Protector commits to helping Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission protect rights ‘in its own country'
The Public Protector has denied that a meeting with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to discuss healthcare challenges for Zimbabweans in South Africa took place. The Office of the Public Protector says it has no record of a complaint by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) regarding the denial of Zimbabwean nationals' access to healthcare services in South Africa. Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka was responding to ZHRC Chairperson Jessie Majome's comments in an interview with Newzroom Afrika, where she claimed a meeting was held to discuss the issue with the Public Protector. 'The conversation with Advocate Gcaleka was to show our mutual interest in having our countries beneficially resolve the issue of the conflicts that are arising when Zimbabwean nationals approach South African hospitals to seek services,' said Majome. 'This conversation is not a new conversation. In September 2024, the public protector very graciously hosted my commission for a benchmarking and learning visit. We came to learn how the public protector conducts its mandate and overcomes difficulties it encounters, so that we can grow and improve our function. ALSO READ: 'I stand by my words': Limpopo Health MEC says SADC countries must pay for their citizens 'In that visit, Gcaleka and I had a conversation that started about the problem of Zimbabweans seeking help. We agreed that we want to come together and devise ways of coming up with lasting solutions to ensure all enjoy their rights.' 'No such discussion' In a statement on Tuesday, Gcaleka said her office did not host her Zimbabwean counterpart last year. However, no recent meeting had taken place to discuss healthcare services in the country. 'Rather, the discussions were about, among other things, the state of the health care systems in both countries. Accordingly, the PPSA also referred to its own investigation into the state of the healthcare system in South Africa as a guide for the ZHRC to investigate the same in its own country,' said Gcaleka. WATCH: 'You are killing my health system' – Limpopo Health MEC lectures foreign patient 'We are therefore surprised by reports in the media about discussions, which purportedly occurred recently, and were centred around matters relating to Zimbabwean nationals being denied access to health-care services in South Africa; neither do we have record of a complaint of that kind.' South Africa and Zimbabwe partnership Gcaleka said the meeting her office held with her Zimbabwean counterpart covered issues commonly shared between the two institutions, including corruption and challenges relating to service delivery in the two countries, such as healthcare systems. 'Consequently, and on the request of the ZHRC, on 14 October, the public protector of South Africa shared documents with the ZHRC that would assist in strengthening the ZHRC's institutional capacity to investigate malfeasance in its own country. At no point did the discussions then, or recently, focus on the denial of Zimbabwean nationals' access to health-care services in South Africa.' However, the public protector committed to assisting the ZHRC to strengthen its impact to better serve the people of Zimbabwe, 'in line with international standards followed by institutions of its kind, which are to uphold the rule of law, protect human rights and enforce good governance in its own country'. READ NEXT: 'Hands off Dr Phophi Ramathuba'- Premier in hot seat over comments to Zimbabwean patient
TimesLIVE
05-08-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
No discussions with ZHRC about Zimbabweans denied access to healthcare services: public protector
The public protector's office has clarified it has not received complaints lodged by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) regarding the denial of Zimbabwean nationals' access to healthcare services in South Africa. There has been a growing trend of advocacy groups such as Operation Dudula blocking illegal foreigners from receiving medical care. The small fringe group has been protesting outside clinics and hospitals, checking patients' nationalities and turning away non-South Africans. In a recent interview with Newzroom Afrika, ZHRC chairperson Jessie Majome said she had a conversation with public protector Kholeka Gcaleka about how the two countries can resolve the issue. 'This is not a new conversation. In September 2024 Gcaleka hosted the ZHRC for a benchmarking and learning visit,' Majome said. 'During the visit we agreed we want to come together and devise ways to come up with lasting solutions to ensure all human beings enjoy their rights freely.' The public protector's office said it did host the ZHRC delegation last year and no discussions were held about Zimbabweans being denied access to healthcare services in South Africa. 'The visit covered several issues commonly shared between institutions with a similar mandate, including but not limited to best practices within the environment, corruption and challenges relating to service delivery in the two countries, among those being healthcare systems,' the public protector's office said. 'Consequently, and on the request of the ZHRC, on October 14 the public protector of South Africa shared documents with the ZHRC that would assist to strengthen the ZHRC's institutional capacity to investigate malfeasance in its own country. At no point did the discussions then, or recently, focus on the denial of Zimbabwean nationals' access to healthcare services in South Africa. 'We are therefore surprised by reports in the media about discussions, which purportedly occurred recently, and were centred around matters relating to Zimbabwean nationals being denied access to healthcare services in South Africa, neither do we have record of a complaint of that kind.'
eNCA
02-08-2025
- Health
- eNCA
Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission engages SA's Public Protector over access to healthcare
Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission HARARE - The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission is in talks with South Africa's Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka. It comes as foreign nationals, including Zimbabwean nationals, are being barred from accessing healthcare. Operation Dudula and March and March say they are putting a strain on limited services. They are vowing to intensify their campaign to include schools and businesses. Meanwhile, last week, Zimbabwe's Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the Zimbabwe government will not pay for the medical bills of its citizens in South Africa.
eNCA
07-06-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
14 South Africans held in Zimbabwean jails
HARARE - At least 14 South Africans are being held in Zimbabwean jails. They are among over 70 foreign nationals behind bars in the country, the majority for crossing the border illegally. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission says these people should be deported and not held. During a visit to the Harare Remand and Chikurubi Maximum Security prisons recently, the commission exposed inhumane conditions. It's calling for an urgent intervention. The commission inspected the Harare Remand and Chikurubi Maximum Security prisons. It found inhumane conditions, lack of access to education, healthcare and delays in legal proceedings. But, the commission also found dozens of undocumented migrants. The ZHRC says these people should be deported and not held in these jails. Human rights lawyers are calling for the swift implementation of all the commission's findings.
