South African Falls Sick in Zimbabwe, Flown Back Home After Failing to Get Treatment

South African Flown Back Home After He Fails to Get Treatment in Zimbabwe

South Africans on social media have reacted with anger after a citizen who fell seriously ill while working in Zimbabwe had to be airlifted back home because he could not get the medical care he needed.

Also read: South African Hospital Denies Liver Transplant to Zimbabwean Teenage Because She’s A Foreigner

South African Fails to Get Treatment in Zimbabwe

Details about the man’s illness were still unclear at the time of writing. However, the situation became so serious that South African authorities sent a helicopter to retrieve him from Beitbridge, near the border.

When he landed back in South Africa, Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego were there to receive him.
The Limpopo Provincial Government confirmed the rescue in a post on X on Monday, 28 April.

“Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and MEC for Health Ms Dieketseng Mashego receive the South African patient who was airlifted from Beit Bridge. He could not receive necessary medical treatment when he fell ill in Bulawayo,” the post read.

Mixed Reactions as South Africans Vent

The story sparked an emotional response online. Many South Africans slammed the government for treating Zimbabweans for free while one of their own had to be flown out due to poor health services across the border. Others were more sympathetic, arguing that Zimbabwe’s broken healthcare system simply could not help.

Here are some of the reactions:

@Bubu38228218:

Yet we are expected 2 provide health care to Zimbabweans, no questions asked. Madam Premier, South Africans will remember that the ANC sold our country in the next election.

@Kharikhode2:

But it’s not like they refused to treat her, they just don’t have enough capacity. Zim’s health care is in tatters. It was a very good move to bring her back home.

@MarciaShumba:

Chances are, he couldn’t receive medical treatment in Zim because there is none. That is the reality of every Zimbabwean. Hospitals don’t even have paracetamol, and even the biggest hospitals don’t have oxygen. So I’m not shocked.. at least the SA gvt rescued him!

@fulungwana:

No Zimbabwean should receive medical attention in South Africa- an eye for an eye.

@MoiponeSenoe:

They couldn’t offer just 1 patient help when SA services millions of their citizens?

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The post South African Falls Sick in Zimbabwe, Flown Back Home After Failing to Get Treatment appeared first on iHarare News.

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