HEALTHCARE WORKERS COULD BE COLLUDING WITH DUDULA

South Africa is not a lawless and xenophobic country, says Health Department

- LISA ISAACS and NICOLA DANIELS

HEALTHCARE workers allegedly colluding with members of Operation Dudula in preventing healthcare users suspected of being undocumented foreign nationals from accessing healthcare facilities are in violation of the constitution, the National Health Act and the Hippocratic oath they took, says the Health Department.

"We have been alerted of such allegations of collusion between healthcare workers and members of Operation Dudula preventing healthcare users without forms of identification due to suspicion of undocumented foreign nationals, and we call upon anyone with a shred of evidence to share with us so we can act accordingly without fear of favour," said Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale.

He said any security guard employed by the department, directly or indirectly, who assists the protesters block healthcare users from accessing facilities, will be charged for overreaching their mandate which is to protect the facilities.

"They would equally face actions for violating the laws and policies of the country. South Africa is not a lawless and xenophobic country, thus we call upon law enforcement agencies to enforce the law against anyone who undermines the laws of our country," Mohale said.