'Illegal Immigration Burdening South Africa's Health System'

Undocumented foreign nationals have been accused of straining South Africa’s health delivery system resulting in locals failing to receive healthcare services.

Johannesburg’s MMC for Health and Social Development, Ashley Sauls, on Saturday told eNCA that illegal migrants are putting pressure on the country’s health system. Said, Sauls:

This is the problem that South Africans are facing. I am part of this government and I am saying we take responsibility.

If we take responsibility, we are then going to openly and transparently look at what the issue is.

We cannot tip-toe around the issue. If the issue is uncontrolled, illegal immigration will continue burdening our health systems, and it is negatively impacting South African citizens and we have got to ask: What are the solutions? What should we do?

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Sauls’ remarks come after a video went viral in South Africa showing pregnant women sleeping on the floor at a hospital in Johannesburg.

South Africa is home to millions of foreigners fleeing civil war, drought, and joblessness among other things from their home countries.

This has, however, resulted in the emergence of anti-African immigrant movements in South Africa such as Operation Dudula that accuse foreign nationals of taking their jobs and involvement in drug dealing.

More: NewsDay