Health Minister Motsoaledi Urges Operation Dudula to Respect South Africa’s Healthcare Laws

South Africa — Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi has issued a stern reminder to members of Operation Dudula and other civic groups to adhere to national laws after reports surfaced of foreign nationals being blocked from public healthcare facilities.

Minister’s Engagement with Civic Groups

Dr. Motsoaledi confirmed that he had met with Operation Dudula representatives to clarify the role of the Department of Health. He explained that:

• The Department of Health cannot differentiate between citizens and foreign nationals.
• Matters related to nationality fall under the Department of Home Affairs, not Health.

"I told them they might be solving what looks like a legitimate problem but using the wrong means," said Motsoaledi. "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."

READ: Gauteng Health MEC Pleads for End to Clinic Blockades After Child’s Death in Alexandra

Clarifying Free Healthcare Policies

The Minister also addressed widespread misconceptions about free healthcare in South Africa:

• Free healthcare is only available to children under six and pregnant women, regardless of nationality, as established by Nelson Mandela in 1995.
• For all other patients, fees apply, though emergency treatment cannot be denied even if a patient cannot pay.

"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," Motsoaledi warned.

READ: ZANU-PF accuses Operation Dudula of targeting Africans, movement responds

Rising Tensions Over Healthcare Access

Dr. Motsoaledi’s comments come amid heightened tensions surrounding the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa’s public healthcare system. Civic groups such as Operation Dudula have been actively pushing for stricter enforcement of immigration and service access laws, leading to clashes and public controversy.

The Minister reiterated that healthcare is a universal right for all who are sick, emphasizing the need for legal compliance and ethical treatment in line with South African law.