VEREENIGING.- Community members have come out to vehemently deny claims of xenophobia and that they are preventing foreigners from getting help from the Market Clinic.

This follows a report last week in Sedibeng Ster that revealed that the communities of Sharpeville and Vereeniging are apparently preventing foreigners from getting help from the clinics in their areas, demanding to see documentation from the foreigners.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Serero Leseane, a Vereeniging community member, said that the report is not a true reflection of the situation.

He said that not all foreigners are denied access to health services, but that only those who are illegally in the country, without the correct documentation, are not allowed to visit the clinic. The situation, he said, was necessary because locals do not receive treatment timeously because of the undocumented and illegal foreigners.

Leseane further added that the closure of the Rust-ter-Vaal clinic due to unsafe and unhealthy conditions has also compounded the situation, with the staff at the Market Clinic being overworked.

“We are not xenophobic; there is no hate here, and reports that we are following Dudula’s example are not true. We are only doing what is right, giving the right people (documented and locals) preference, timeously, for access to healthcare.”

A community meeting about the situation was called last week at the Vereeniging Civic Hall, where Sedibeng MMC for Health Nkubi Mokoena was invited, but due to personal matters, she apparently could not attend. The community has vowed that the current situation will exist until she comes and addresses them.

Ward 15 Councillor, Prudence Hlanyane, said that she understands the frustrations of the community, but she condemns any form of violence against foreigners.

“I sympathise with the community and believe that a solution to this problem should be found soon. I will make it a point that, as a link between the residents and the municipality, they get their wish of meeting the MMC.”

The MMC of Health in the SDM could not be reached at the times of going to print, and no violent incidents had been reported.