The Southern Africa Refugee Organisations Forum (SAROF) has condemned recent protests blocking foreign nationals from accessing healthcare, calling claims that undocumented migrants are overwhelming public hospitals “misinformation.”
SAROF Chairperson Eric Jean Butoki spoke in an interview, addressing the human cost of ongoing demonstrations led by groups such as Operation Dudula and March on March. Protesters have camped outside clinics, demanding that only South African ID holders receive treatment, blaming foreigners for straining the health system.
Patients Denied Critical Care
Butoki revealed that over 50 documented refugees and naturalized South Africans were turned away from hospitals this week alone, despite having appointments for chronic medication and emergency care.
“There’s no truth to the claim that undocumented foreigners are being chased out—these are people with legal refugee status or even South African IDs,” he said. “Some have lived here for 30 years.”
Videos and lists of affected patients have been compiled as evidence.
“Xenophobia, Not Scarcity”
Butoki dismissed arguments that migrants drain resources, noting that refugees and asylum seekers pay taxes and contribute to the economy. He accused officials of fueling anti-foreigner sentiment, citing a recent speech by a provincial premier who suggested restricting hospital access to ID holders.
“This is administrative xenophobia, driven by political rhetoric,” he said.
Camps Proposed as Solution
To ease tensions, Butoki suggested segregating refugees into designated camps, where they could access aid without competing with locals—a controversial idea but one he argued would prevent street arrests and improve service delivery.
“Urban refugees here get no assistance, unlike in other countries,” he said. “Camps may ensure their rights are protected.”
Call for Clarity
Butoki urged the government to educate citizens on the distinctions between migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees, whose rights are protected under international law.
As protests continue, vulnerable patients—both foreign and local—face life-threatening delays, deepening the crisis in an already strained health system.