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- People affiliated with Operation Dudula have been protesting at two Gauteng hospitals, blocking access to the facilities.
- It has been claimed that the protesters have been screening people based on their appearance and accents.
- Last week, the Gauteng High Court barred protesters from gathering at Kalafong Hospital in Pretoria.
The Gauteng health department says it will turn to the courts and police to ensure that services at hospitals in the province aren't disrupted by protesters who are opposed to the treatment of foreign nationals at health facilities.
It said access to healthcare was a "fundamental human right" that was protected by the Constitution.
Members of Operation Dudula have been protesting outside the Hillbrow Community Health Centre in the Johannesburg city centre and Kalafong Hospital in Atteridgeville, Pretoria.
At Kalafong Hospital, News24 spoke to people working at the hospital, who said Operation Dudula members were turning people away.
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While the protesters claimed they were only asking the hospital to implement existing policies, international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders said Operation Dudula members were turning patients away based on their appearance and accents, TimesLive reported on Monday.
A small group of protesters returned to Kalafong Hospital on Tuesday. Police arrived later in the morning to speak to the group.
Last week, the office of Gauteng's health MEC obtained an interdict preventing Puleng Tau, Lucas Makhubele, Mamohau Matime and an "unknown group of protesters" from "threatening and denying patients and employees of Kalafong Hospital access to the hospital". The protesters were ordered to disperse.
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In Hillbrow, a small group of protesters gathered outside the Hillbrow Community Health Centre on Tuesday.
Gauteng health department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said they were aware of the protests. Modiba said the protesters weren't disrupting services at this stage.
"We are aware of the situation. Where services are disrupted, we will seek remedies from the courts and the police.
"We appeal to people not to disrupt services. Access to medical help is a constitutional right," Modiba said.
Operation Dudula's Johannesburg chairperson, Siphiwe Shabangu, vowed to continue picketing outside all health facilities in Johannesburg until their demands were met.
Operation Dudula has been widely criticised for promoting xenophobic sentiments and vigilantism.
