Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) has warned that the government can be taken to court if it fails to intervene in the public health crisis of vigilantes stopping foreigners, and some South Africans, from entering state hospitals and clinics.
The Independent on Saturday reports that it said the government was obliged to treat everyone, citizens or not, and if the police and other state institutions do not urgently intervene, a court of law can be approached for an order to restrain and interdict whoever is turning people away from facilities.
Militant groups Operation Dudula and March and March have been blocking the entrance to hospitals for the past two months, demanding people show their South African IDs before deciding whether they can get medical help.
Refugee leaders in Durban say that at least two people have died because they failed to get the treatment they needed. …..more
