By Zuko Komisa
Limpopo Health MEC Dr. Phophi Ramathuba has received the support of the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum.
The chairperson of the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, Gabriel Shumba, has said labelling Ramathuba’s comments as xenophobic could have unintended consequences.
The non-profit organisation formed by Zimbabwean political and economic refugees resident in South Africa claims Ramathuba is not xenophobic and is merely bringing attention to the truth.
This follows the release of a video showing Ramathuba informing a woman that immigrants from Zimbabwe were a significant pressure on the provincial healthcare system,
She has been heavily criticized for her “xenophobic behaviour.”
She is heard arguing that South Africa does not run a charitable organization in the video.
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Some have called on Premier Stanley Mathabatha to fire her as a result of the outburst, which has ignited a firestorm of controversy.
According to Shumba, who spoke to the SABC, the blame should be placed on President Emmerson Mnangagwa for Zimbabweans flocking to South African healthcare facilities.
“The difficulty we have representing Zimbabweans, we cannot at this juncture dub or label the comments as xenophobic. She was speaking in her own opinion [capacity] and you should appreciate the volatility of the situation, and the fact that we have now been hung up to dry in the context that Zimbabweans are operating in, at present.”
“This is a volatile situation where our representatives label her actions and comments as xenophobic. She has violated all ethical conduct of doctors in any country on earth,” says Shumba.
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