PARTIES ARE divided about the right action to take against the health MEC for lashing out at a Zimbabwean patient.
But the EFF has a clear picture of what should happen to her.
“SHE MUST PRACTISE Her hatred of African people outside of state power!” said the EFF.
Yesterday, 24 August, Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba got torn apart on social media after she had lashed out at a sickly Zimbabwean patient at a Bela-Bela hospital.
Ramathuba has defended her actions for venting her frustrations on the patient, saying she was merely telling the patient that she would have to pay for the services.
But her rant, captured in a video clip, contains some insulting statements.
“You are supposed to be with Mnangagwa,” she told the patient.
“You are killing my health system. When you guys are sick, you just say, let’s cross over to Limpopo as there’s an MEC there who is running a charity department.”
But her excuse hasn’t gone down well with some people.
While some parties want her removed from office, others want her reprimanded. for her despicable actions, particularly as she is a qualified medical doctor who should know better.
“The Afrophobic attack by Ramathuba on a bed-ridden patient is cruel and malicious and has no justification,” said the EFF, who called for her removal. .
“Health rights are human rights and to attempt to rationalise the denial of healthcare on the basis of someone’s nationality will lead to gross human violations whose logic is pure hatred.”
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said: “Ramathuba must just be told to tow the line. Our constitution doesn’t say foreign nationals must not be treated at hospitals.”
ActionSA chairman in Limpopo, Sello Lediga, said the premier of Limpopo must reprimand her.
“The problem is with her party, the ANC who have failed to secure our borders,” said Lediga.
“She must address this issue with her government not a defenceless sick woman.”
DA Limpopo spokesman for health Risham Maharaj said they’ve written to the SA Human Rights Commission.
“We consider Ramathuba’s comments as xenophobic and inconsistent with the standard of treatment that should be afforded to a patient,” he said.
He said she should have treated the situation with the necessary sensitivity despite her own frustrations.
Ramathuba told Daily Sun her duty was to care for the people of Limpopo and her budget has been cut.She said her budget is allocated according to population as confirmed by the census and undocumented foreigners were not on the database, so they should pay a full amount.
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“And the EFF members, the very people who want me to be removed. When their members are sick they need care,” she said.
“I was simply saying that the patient must pay the full amount because they didn’t have an emergency,” she said.
The MEC said it was not only Zimbabweans who were flooding public hospitals in the province but also nationals from other neighbouring countries.
“My mandate is to make sure that the people of Limpopo live healthy lives but there are many challenges,” she said.
“We get a R3 billion budget cut. When budgets get cut, disease are not cut.”
She argued that the department was not denying foreign nationals any service but that because illegal foreign nationals were not categorised in terms of the budget they must be compelled to pay the full amount.
