The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has reminded the public that everyone in South Africa, regardless of nationality or documentation status, has the constitutional right to access healthcare.
Section 27 of the Constitution guarantees:
- The right to basic healthcare for all
- Emergency medical treatment without discrimination
The SAHRC raised concern over clinics and hospitals denying migrants treatment, and over vigilante groups unlawfully blocking access to facilities. Only the Department of Home Affairs and SAPS are legally allowed to enforce immigration laws.
The Commission urged:
- Healthcare workers to treat all patients with dignity
- Public clinics to provide non-discriminatory access
- Citizens to report issues through proper channels, not take the law into their own hands
Blocking access to healthcare is a human rights violation.
