South Africa’s National Health Act guarantees everyone in South Africa, irrespective of documentation or citizenship, the right to access the public health system and to be tested. Despite this progressive legislation, undocumented migrants often fear authority and will remain hidden, rather than to seek access to public hospitals and clinics. In an article published on Africa is a Country, Jo Vearey criticises government ministers referring to South African citizens only in a time of pandemic, arguing instead for an inclusive narrative where we should be talking of “all in South Africa” when considering the collective members in society.
Access to testing, healthcare and treatment for HIV and TB should be accessible to everyone, inclusive of refugees, asylum seekers, visitors and undocumented migrants, without fear of repercussion and deportation. Failure to do so will hasten the infection rate and flame the fires of xenophobia, already too well known in the South African context.
Over 66% of South Africa’s total population live in urban areas. With the growth of informal settlements, densely populated townships and overcrowded living spaces, effective social distancing becomes meaningless. With no reliable access to clean water, basic sanitation, electricity, and unemployment levels at 27,32%, these areas are a ticking time bomb for mass infections to spread.
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Pragna Rugunanan | Radio Free (2020-07-02T00:00:00+00:00) “South Africa belongs to all who live in it”, COVID-19 showed it does not. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2020/07/02/south-africa-belongs-to-all-who-live-in-it-covid-19-showed-it-does-not/
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