On Thursday, the South Gauteng High Court judge ruled that the City of Johannesburg, the Gauteng and national health departments, as well as the police, must urgently ensure safe and unhindered physical access to Yeoville and Rosettenville Clinics in Johannesburg for anyone seeking health services.
The judgment complements a November ruling meant to stop xenophobic groups such as Operation Dudula from blocking foreign nationals from entering government hospitals and clinics, and denying their constitutional right to healthcare.
The court ordered the government and police to ensure safe and unhindered access to the two facilities, remove any unauthorised persons who block access and to put up notices at all entrances that warns that such people will be reported to the police.
Bhekisisas TV programme, Health Beat, spoke to Sharon Ekambaram, head of the refugees and migrants rights project at Lawyers for Human Rights, about whats driving the blockades and emboldening anti-immigrant groups and why clinics themselves should intervene.
Intodays newsletter, our team explains why clinics need to shut down xenophobic intimidation.Sign up for our newsletter today.
Two days before health rights groups the Treatment Action Campaign, Medecins Sans Frontieres and Kopanang Action Against Xenophobia launched an application at the South Gauteng High Court on November 25, seeking an order to force the state to ensure safe access to hospitals and clinics, and remove anyone trying to keep people out, the vigilantes behind the healthcare blockades threw up their middle finger to justice.
No court in South Africa will stop Operation Dudula, the groups Facebook post read. They will have to arrest us all.
