Police used stun grenades to disperse Operation Dudula and the Economic Freedom Fighters members as they clashed outside Kalafong Tertiary Hospital in Atteridgeville, Pretoria on Thursday afternoon.
The two groups attacked each other with stones, empty bottles and even a shambok. After the clash members of Operation Dudula were seen burning an EFF flag.
The crowd gathered outside the hospital where Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla was expected to conduct a site visit to assess the impact that is caused by the protest against foreign nationals by Operation Dudula.
Before Phaahla’s visit, the department warned that law enforcement would act against “any individual or organisations whose actions pose a threat on the lives of health workers and patients”.
It is alleged that for the past two weeks members of Operation Dudula stationed themselves outside the hospital’s entrance and checked people identification documents. As a result, some of the foreign workers and patients were turned away and could not gain access to the facility.
It is also alleged that people were stooped and questioned based on their complexion and the clothes that they were wearing.
The government condemned the protesters actions after a dark-skinned Venda was left hurt after Operation Dudula members confronted her and asked to see her documents On Monday.
“Is it because of the darkness of my skin?” asked the 28-year-old woman who was stopped and accused of being a foreigner by members of the movement.
The health department endorsed government’s statement condemning those preventing people from accessing health facilities based on nationality, colour of their skin and the language they speak.
Source: The South African, News24, The Citizen, Times Live, image from Times Live: Shonisani Tshikalange