Health Minister Urges Operation Dudula to Respect the Law in Healthcare Access

Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi has called on members of Operation Dudula to abide by the laws of the country, following reports of the group and other civic organisations blocking foreign nationals from accessing public healthcare facilities.

Motsoaledi revealed that he had engaged with members of Operation Dudula to explain why his ministry cannot differentiate between South African citizens and foreign nationals. He emphasised that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Home Affairs, not the Department of Health.

“I told them they might be solving what looks like a legitimate problem but using the wrong means,” he said. “In health, we treat everybody who is sick. They can’t expect us to chase people away when they are ill, whatever their nationality. That is simply not allowed in healthcare anywhere.”

The Minister also addressed misconceptions about free healthcare in South Africa, clarifying that it is only available to specific groups. “Healthcare is free for children under six and pregnant women, regardless of nationality. This was declared by our founding president Nelson Mandela in 1995,” Motsoaledi explained.

For all other patients, services are not free and fees are charged. However, in emergency situations where a patient arrives without money, the Minister stressed that treatment cannot be denied. “If there’s an emergency, there’s no way you won’t be treated. Otherwise, the Department of Health would face litigation on an unimaginable scale,” he warned.

Motsoaledi’s comments come amid growing tensions over the treatment of foreign nationals in the public healthcare system, as civic groups push for stricter enforcement of immigration and service access laws.