Episode Ten: Humanity Transcends Nationality

Human Rights Live

Episode ten focuses on the white paper on Immigration, Citizenship and Refugee Protection. This policy document, made public over a year ago, proposes major changes in the South African migration system that have far reaching consequences.

As people wait for the new legislation, there is mounting xenophobia in some communities. One of the unfavourable consequences is what is currently happening in state hospitals, as heard in this YouTube clip (August 2025) where Patriotic Alliance protesters were denying access to healthcare services for foreign nationals.

“We are kindly asking… if you know you are not a South African citizen, may you please get up and leave our hospital. If you know that you are not a South African citizen, may you please stand up and leave our hospital. [Some patients leaving]. Thank you very much, thank you gentleman. If you know you are not a South African citizen, you need to go and seek help from private hospitals, not here anymore. We’re supporting March in March organisation. We have already started here to activate hospitals. And the message is very clear. We don’t want foreign nationals, documents no documents…"

It is not too late to speak out! Before it becomes law.