The Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa has finally broken silence on the ‘Afrophobic’ attacks by Limpopo Health Member of Executive Committee (MEC), Dr Phophi Ramathuba against a Zimbabwean national who was seeking treatment at a South African hospital.
Ramathuba sparked controversy last week after a video emerged of her chiding a Zimbabwean patient at a Limpopo hospital that immigrants were straining the provincial healthcare system.
In response, the Zimbabwean embassy in SA expressed concern over the incident, saying engagements with South African authorities were in progress.
“The embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe in Pretoria watched with shock and disbelief the video (images) in which the Member of Executive Council (MEC) of Health Limpopo province spoke to a Zimbabwean national who happened to be a patient in a hospital in the area.
“The embassy has been in contact with the Government of South Africa through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to who it has conveyed the concerns of the Government of Zimbabwe on the concerns made by the MEC.
We’re concerned by the way the MEC for Health in Limpopo addressed a Zimbabwean patient in Bela Bela. We believe platforms exist for engagement and we subscribe to full utilization of appropriate channels and platforms for the good of our two countries,” reads the statement.
Meanwhile, the Pan African Parliament vice-president for Women’s caucus, Victoria Kingstone has described Ramathuba’s conduct as unbecoming.
“It’s so unfortunate, this is a female doctor ill-treating a patient. We are one Africa, whichever country one belongs to. When it comes to humanitarian issues we should behave as human beings,” she said.
“I am attending a PAP session, and I might fall sick and might need medical assistance here. Let’s treat all human beings whether they are in a foreign country or not, equally. I condemn strongly the behaviour shown by that doctor, it is unacceptable,” added Kingstone.
