“We Are Not a Sick Nation”: Nurse Urges Community Members to Visit Empty Local Clinic, SA Debates
- A KwaZulu-Natal nurse urged community members to visit her clinic after it emptied following the 30 June 'mabahambe' protests
- The clinic, which used to see between 100 and 150 patients daily, recorded only 2 visitors after the protests
- South Africans online reacted with excitement, saying they could finally get quick service at public health facilities
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Source: Twitter
A KwaZulu-Natal nurse has gone viral after pleading with locals to come to her clinic, which was left nearly empty in the wake of the 30 June protests, where many foreign nationals left the country. In a post shared by X user @LCabonena on 2 June 2026, the nurse made a lighthearted appeal.
An appeal for locals to visit clinics
The nurse joked that with so few patients coming through the doors, she had nothing to do and urged South Africans to come in and make use of the facility. The numbers behind her plea were striking. Before the protests, the clinic was seeing between 100 and 150 patients every single day. After 30 June, only two people came through.
Watch the nurse's appeal that got South Africans talking:
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Mzansi reacts to the empty clinic
The video struck a nerve with South Africans who have long complained about overcrowded public health facilities, long waiting times and stretched nursing staff. Many were thrilled at the prospect of finally getting seen quickly.
User @11db6ffc4c1b44e asked:
"Iyiphi oew leyo clinic? Ngyeza. (Which clinic is that? I'm coming)."
User @michaelmakgale said:
"This is what South Africans need. Go to the clinic and be serviced in 30 minutes. And not to be there the whole day."
User @10Capable added:
"That's what we pay our tax for! Happy to see that our South African will benefit from our hard-earned tax without having to fight for it!"
User @G_abashwe noted:
"As it is supposed to be now, the nurses will be friendly again. Not everyone was rushing to book a visit. Some pointed out that South Africans simply do not visit clinics unless absolutely necessary."
User @Mantsi_ wrote:
"We are not a sick nation; we visit health facilities when necessary, not to collect medication to sell."
User @JeanetteBotha4 said:
"What a lovely woman."
3 Briefly News hospital-related articles
- A healthcare worker opened an online platform for community members to share their bad experiences at local health facilities, sparking a massive online debate.
- In another Briefly News article, a creator shared a video of hospital patients participating in a viral dance challenge, sparking laughter online.
- A TikTok user shared a video of a group of men enjoying themselves in a healthcare facility, leaving the online community in stitches.
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Source: Briefly News
