Gayton McKenzie Calls for Ban on Illegal Foreigners in SA Hospitals, Zimbabweans Set to Be Affected
South Africa Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture Gayton McKenzie has called for illegal foreigners to be banned from receiving medical treatment in South African hospitals.
His remarks follow the United States’ decision to cut USAID-funded programmes, which has led to a 17% reduction in funding for South Africa’s healthcare system.
The funding cut has reignited debates on immigration policies and South Africa’s strained relationship with Zimbabwe and other neighbouring countries.
Zimbabweans and Other Foreign Nationals at Risk
South Africa’s public healthcare system has long served thousands of undocumented immigrants, including Zimbabweans.
The latest call by Gayton McKenzie directly affects Zimbabwean nationals who rely on South African hospitals, as their home country continues to face economic and healthcare crises.
Many Zimbabweans travel to South Africa seeking medical care due to shortages of medication and understaffed hospitals back home. However, McKenzie argues that the burden should not fall on South African taxpayers.
“Because the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) has been removed, 17% of the money is gone. I ask the president of this country: can we stop giving medical help to illegal foreigners?
“They should be banned from our hospitals. They must go to their country that has a good relationship with America,” McKenzie said.
His remarks have sparked fierce debate, particularly in the Zimbabwean community, where many fear that tougher immigration policies could lead to further restrictions on access to South African healthcare facilities.
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AfriForum’s Role and SA-US Tensions
South Africa’s diplomatic fallout with the US has escalated, partly due to AfriForum and the Solidarity movement’s meeting with the Trump administration. According to TimesLive, their discussions reportedly contributed to the USAID funding cuts, which have affected HIV/AIDS programmes, medical training, and job creation in South Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned AfriForum’s involvement, arguing that misinformation played a role in the US decision.
The funding cut is expected to have a severe impact on foreign nationals, including Zimbabweans who depend on Pepfar-funded HIV treatment in South Africa.
Gayton McKenzie Urges Ramaphosa to Mend Ties with the US
McKenzie urged President Ramaphosa to repair diplomatic ties with Donald Trump, warning that South Africa has more to lose than the US.
“Not everyone hates Americans, and not everyone here is saying the US should go to hell. Some of us are saying stop listening to racists giving you wrong information but let’s get together and talk. Let Ramaphosa sit down with Trump and work out a deal.
“America needs South Africa, South Africa needs America. If we don’t work together, both will lose, but South Africa will lose more. America does not have doctors who are out of a job. We have medical students [doctors] that are out of a job. Without Pepfar, it will be worse. People are going to die. HIV/Aids is going to kill our people.”
The loss of USAID funding has already resulted in 15,000 job cuts, and concerns are growing about the sustainability of healthcare programmes for both South Africans and foreign nationals.