Kamogelo Olaitan
Limpopo MEC of Health Dr Phophi Ramathuba’s outburst against a Zimbabwean patient has provoked a flood of responses – both by people outraged at her comments and those who praised her for speaking the truth.
Ramathuba accused the patient of “killing my health system” and told her she should have been treated in health facilities run by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
On Wednesday the MEC responded to charges of xenophobia by doubling down on her remarks, saying the inflow of foreigners into the country was choking the Limpopo health system.
“The situation is getting worse. As a province, we have a backlog of surgical operations, so I started a programme called Rural Health Matters, to reduce the backlog. It’s not xenophobic,” she said in an interview.
In another interview with SABC News, Ramathuba stood her ground, saying that her responsibility was to ensure that the people of Limpopo live long and healthy lives.
“If I am able to clear the surgical backlog of Limpopo I will start with other provinces in the country before I can even think of SADC.”
She said the patient in the video was not there on an emergency basis but had been in an accident in Harare.
“She told me a family friend told her to come to Limpopo, she would get help. If she came here for an emergency or she was pregnant, you would be justified in criticising me,” Ramathuba said.
Her sharp tone towards the patient has divided the nation, with the EFF and the DA calling for her resignation and others sharing her sentiment.
By Wednesday evening Ramathuba was on top of the twitter trends.
Popular radio host Eusebius MacKaiser wrote that it was “disgusting and simply
THOUGHTLESS also to allow a useless politician to succeed in pulling the wool over your eyes as an angry citizen by lashing out at foreign nationals. The politician succeeds in not being put on trial for HER ineptitude and more.”
“Don’t soil your appropriate message with ridicule and embarrassment. Patients have rights, and those include the right to privacy, and doctors need to respect them while being firm of the rules, regulations and the law. This MEC could have done the same differently,” wrote one twitter user.
“Illegal foreigners are a burden to the SA economy, the government now spends more, while taxing less (Illegal Immigrants don’t pay tax), which causes the economy to grow at a slower pace! I support Dr Phophi, she’s 100% correct,” @Zukx wrote.
“Ramathuba is a populist who is joining the pretentious and opportunistic campaign by the ANC to shift the responsibility of SA on so-called foreign nationals,” EFF said in a statement.
The DA in Limpopo has complained to the SA Human Rights Commission.
“This incident is just another reason why she must be fired in order to save the province’s health system,” said DA health spokesperson in Limpopo Risham Maharaj.
Image source:@CapricornFM
