Karabo Rammutla
EFF members were sjambokked and their party’s flags burnt as violence broke out outside Kalafong Hospital on Thursday morning.
Members of Operation Dudula had been picketing outside Kalafong Hospital for weeks, barring suspected illegal foreigners from accessing the facility.
On Wednesday members of the EFF first clashed with members of Operation Dudula, chasing them from the hospital. Dudula vowed to come the next day – and they did.
Operation Dudula members who spoke to Scrolla.Africa said they burnt the red berets’ flags as a way to celebrate their victory
It took Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla to calm the situation down.
Phaahla met with the leadership of Dudula and hospital management, where it was agreed that Dudula stop picketing the hospital.
He appealed to Operation Dudula not to take matters into their own hands.
“We looked at the issues that they raised like long queues and allegations of people who pretend to be sick only to sell medication. We have agreed that this doesn’t need picketing and Dudula understood,” he said.
Phaahla said they agreed that Dudula shouldn’t interfere with hospital operations and should report any issues to authorities.
“We will engage neighbouring countries and embassies on how to deal with this issue of foreign patients. It is also sometimes difficult for health workers to communicate with some of these patients when they need consent to take them to theatre,” he said.
The EFF said they had ordered Operation Dudula to leave after the police had failed to enforce a court interdict obtained by the Department of Health on Friday, barring picketing outside the hospital.
EFF Gauteng spokesperson Phillip Makwala said they didn’t run away but his party members were not fighting anyone. They were only worried that the police were doing nothing to execute the court interdict.
