Agree to disagree? Ramaphosa reacts to ‘xenophobic’ Health MEC
Photo source: Flickr and Facebook (Limpopo Health Department)
Agree to disagree? Ramaphosa reacts to ‘xenophobic’ Health MEC
President Cyril Ramaphosa faced tough questions in Parliament, including about Limpopo MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba’s recent remarks
Agree to disagree? Ramaphosa reacts to ‘xenophobic’ Health MEC
Photo source: Flickr and Facebook (Limpopo Health Department)
President Cyril Ramaphosa has become the latest to weigh in on the controversy surrounding Limpopo Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba.
Ramathuba has been heavily condemned for confronting a Zimbabwean patient at a hospital in Bela-Bela recently. In a clip that has since gone viral, Ramathuba can be seen quizzing the female patient about her immigration status, telling them her department does not have the budget to accommodate foreign nationals.
In his response, Ramaphosa didn’t exactly criticise the MEC over the saga.
RAMAPHOSA ADDRESSES RAMATHUBA’S REMARKS
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Floyd Shivambu brought up Dr Phophi Ramathuba’s controversial remarks during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appearance in the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday, 30 August 2022.
Ramaphosa seemingly agrees with Ramathuba’s sentiments, but does take issue with how she handled it.
“The MEC has raised an important issue that is under debate and of course she raised it with a patient and I guess, it is such an important issue, it could have been raised in another way… It is a matter that is going to require a lot of attention even as we meet at head of state level to discuss precisely what the movement of people should really entail,” Ramaphosa said in response.
He says matters, including medical care, are germaine to migration in any context.
While many have slammed the MEC over her remarks, including the EFF, political parties like the Patriotic Alliance (PA) have expressed their support for her.
“There are very few countries, if any, where a foreign national with no legal documentation can expect to receive the same level of healthcare treatment as a citizen of that country,” said PA leader Gayton McKenzie.
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