A South African medical doctor, Phophi Ramathuba who is a Member of the Executive (MEC) of Health in Limpopo has said she is not xenophobic contrary to allegations by some on social media.
The allegations were made after a video in which she told a Zimbabwean patient to get medical treatment in Zimbabwe. In an interview with eNCA, Ramathuba later reiterated that Zimbabwean nationals who were going to South Africa illegally were worsening an already dire South African health crisis.
She also told SABC News that her province was abiding by the South African constitution which obliges health institutions to give medical care to everyone despite their place of origin, including foreign nationals. Watch the video below for more:
She said the rural province was under-resourced and “illegal foreign nationals” were abusing the facility.
She said she stands by what she said in a video being shared on social media.
The Doctor said South Africa has been engaging Zimbabwe at a national level to discuss the issue but South Africa is not being reimbursed for resources it would have used on foreign nationals.