Heavy police presence outside Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital in Pretoria, 1 September 2022, where EFF and Operation Dudula members picket. Photo: citizen.co.za/Nigel Sibanda
Operation Dudula movement members have been chased away by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) outside Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital in Atteridgeville, Pretoria.
Members of the anti-immigrant group on Thursday claimed they were attacked and physically assaulted by the EFF.
This follows a violent scuffle on Wednesday that erupted outside the hospital between the two organisations that have been at loggerheads over the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa.
The alleged attack occurred during Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla’s visit to the hospital after Operation Dudula members blocked the entrance to the facility.
They were stopping documented and undocumented foreign nationals from entering Kalafong based on nationality, colour of their skin and the language they speak.
The EFF is against the group’s actions and believes access to healthcare in South Africa should not be based on people’s nationality.
Phaahla was expected to engage with Operation Dudula and EFF members separately this afternoon to understand their grievances, according to the chief director in his office Rudzani Mpilo.
Afterwards, the minister is expected to brief the media on his visit.
Government has condemned protestors’ actions after a dark-skinned Venda-speaking woman was left hurt and distraught after a confrontation with Operation Dudula members on Monday.
“Is it because of the darkness of my skin?” asked the 28-year-old woman who was stopped, questioned and accused of being a foreigner by members of the movement.
“They go against the tenets of our hard-fought-for democracy.
“In South Africa, the right to access basic health services is a basic human right that is guaranteed by the Constitution,” said government spokesperson Phumla Williams.
South Africa is governed by the rule of law, which makes provision for every person in the country, regardless of their nationality or documentation status, to access healthcare,” Williams concluded.
Additional reporting by Faizel Patel
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