Empirical Evidence Demanded from the SAHRC on Claims That Hospitals Are Not Overcrowded by Illegal Foreign Nationals

The member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature Emma More has officially written to the South African Human Rights Commission demanding the immediate release of the research report and methodology utilised to conclude that “there is no evidence linking hospital overcrowding to foreign nationals.”

The Human Rights Commission made this definitive pronouncement during a virtual imbizo held this past Monday, which focused on responsible migration and public concerns regarding undocumented migrants.

While the pursuit of responsible migration and the protection of human rights are paramount, blanket statements issued without transparent, empirical backing serve only to frustrate the public and alienate the very people keeping our healthcare system afloat.

The SAHRC’s claim demonstrates a stark and concerning disconnect from the lived reality of the doctors, nurses, and medical staff working on the frontlines of our public healthcare facilities.

Every day, our medical professionals face immense pressure, severe resource constraints, and critical capacity shortages. To dismiss the impact of undocumented migration on these facilities without producing localised, verifiable data invalidates the daily struggles of healthcare workers who are forced to stretch already limited medical supplies and bed space to breaking point.

In her letter to the Commission, MPL More has requested:

• The comprehensive research report and data compilation that informed the SAHRC’s conclusion.
• A detailed breakdown of the research methodology, including sample sizes, specific timeframes, and the scope of healthcare facilities audited.
• Clarity on whether the data differentiates between documented and undocumented foreign nationals, and whether it accounts for the unique, severe pressures faced by highly populated provinces like Gauteng.
• Confirmation of whether these findings were cross-referenced with internal capacity and admissions data from the National and Provincial Departments of Health.

Policy formulation, legislative oversight, and public discourse must be guided by facts, not generalised assumptions. If the SAHRC possesses data that contradicts the daily experiences of healthcare workers and community members, it is in the public interest that this evidence is shared transparently and subjected to rigorous scrutiny.

MPL More remains committed to ensuring that our public healthcare system is protected, that our medical staff are supported, and that institutions are held accountable for the public statements they issue on critical service delivery matters. We await the SAHRC’s prompt response and the full disclosure of their evidence.

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