A heavily pregnant Zimbabwean woman faced a humiliating and aggressive confrontation recently at Pretoria West’s Kalafong Hospital, where a group of South African women verbally attacked her and forced her to leave. The disturbing scene, captured on a viral video, highlights growing tensions over immigration and access to public healthcare in South Africa.
The women accused the Zimbabwean national of placing an unnecessary burden on South Africa’s strained public health system, claiming that Zimbabwe’s government, led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, does not contribute financially to South Africa’s services.
In the video, the unidentified woman is seen being ordered to turn off her phone and is subjected to a barrage of insults. “We are talking to you, switch off the phone! You always come to South Africa to make babies, why?” one woman shouted. Another accused her of exploiting free healthcare: “You come for blood tests for free in our country. You know we pay tax? Is Mnangagwa paying the South African government for your healthcare? Mnangagwa is not paying us anything.”
The group demanded the woman leave immediately and warned her not to return to the hospital. They instructed her to find alternative plans for her delivery, insisting she should return to Zimbabwe. “Today, when you get home, start making arrangements on where you are going to deliver that baby because here in Pretoria West you are not coming. We do not want you anymore! Go home!” they declared.
Despite the woman’s attempts to reason with her attackers, explaining that she was not responsible for the situation back in Zimbabwe, the women grew more hostile. They told her to seek help from South African leaders instead. “You can go to Ramaphosa’s house or Julius Malema’s house. They will help you deliver this child. You are using our facilities, so we are talking to the right person, it is you who came here to give birth, and you are nothing. You are not a South African,” one woman said.
This incident is not isolated. Xenophobic attacks against Zimbabweans and other foreign nationals in South Africa have been escalating, with immigrants often accused of overburdening public services, especially healthcare. Authorities in South Africa have consistently expressed concerns about the strain caused by migrants fleeing from the deteriorating social and economic conditions in Zimbabwe.
The video has sparked widespread outrage and debate online, with human rights groups condemning the attack and calling for urgent measures to address xenophobia. Many South Africans, however, expressed support for the women’s actions, citing the mounting pressure on healthcare facilities and other public services.
As South Africa continues to struggle with high unemployment, economic inequality, and a stretched public healthcare system, foreign nationals—particularly those from neighboring Zimbabwe—remain vulnerable to xenophobic sentiments and violence.
The Zimbabwean government is yet to officially comment on the latest incident.