‘South Africans first’: March and March blocks access to Addington Clinic, checks IDs at gate
The March and March movement has begun their campaign of manning the gates of government clinics where they are turning away foreign nationals while demanding for South African citizens to be prioritised. Today they were at Addington Hospital Gateway Clinic and at RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth and have vowed to return with larger numbers tomorrow.
FOREIGN nationals and those who could not prove that they are South African were turned away at the gates of Addington Hospital Gateway Clinic today as members of the March and March movement manned the entry to the government facility, demanding priority healthcare for citizens.
“We are not xenophobic, we just want South Africans to be put first in the queue for services. We are fighting for our nation and citizens. Those who cannot stand up for themselves,” said March and March deputy chairperson, Lindani Xulu.
@caxtonlocalmedia Members of the March and March movement block access, demanding priority healthcare for SA citizens only 🇿🇦. Foreign nationals turned away at the gate as ID checks were enforced. 📍 Protesters vow to continue the campaign across KZN and SA. #caxtondurban #AddingtonHospital #MarchAndMarch #DurbanNews #BereaMail #HealthcareCrisis ♬ original sound – caxtonlocalmedia
The members of March and March were at the gates of the hospital from 06:00 and vowed to stay until late. Its chairperson, Teresa Nortje, said that the aim is to enforce the laws of South Africa which are being “flouted by foreign nationals” who come to the clinic. “We are enforcing Section 17 of the South African Constitution, where it stipulates that when you want to use the clinic, you need to be a South African citizen and a valid taxpayer,” said Nortje.
She said Addington Hospital Gateway Clinic and RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth were selected by the organisation as the start of this campaign because they are hotspots for foreign nationals. “We are taking a stand here today, and letting foreign nationals know, that we are tired and cannot stand this anymore. We (South Africans) are paying for them to get healthcare while citizens suffer,” said Nortje while standing outside the Addington Hospital.
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She said, “Our healthcare professionals are tired and overwhelmed with the amount of work that they have to do at this facility on a daily basis. When you look at the statistics, it show that 95% of the people visiting Addington Hospital are foreigners so that is why we are here today. All we are saying is that take your children and yourselves to a private hospital because you have the medical assistance that is required there. Stop taking the beds and medication that is rightfully there for our South African citizens and not you as a foreigner.”
While the Berea Mail was outside the clinic, we observed identity documents (ID) of every person being checked. A few people were turned away, while hospital security remained behind the gates. Sithobile Simelane, who frequents the clinic, said the queues were not as heavy today. “It was a good experience, it was fast today” said Simelane. “I normally sit in the queue from 09:00 to 13:00 but today I was in and out within two hours.”
A suspected foreign national who tried to argue his way in, was turned away by the group, which demanded his ID. Xulu said, “This is not the end, it’s the start. We will be here every day if we need to be, until the point has been made. South Africa is not a banana republic, we are here fighting for it. This campaign will soon be throughout the province, nationally. Our presence made a difference here today.
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