Ramathuba Doubles Down, Slams People Who Pay for Medical Aid Calling for Her Resignation

• Limpopo Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba has refused to apologise for berating a Zimbabwean national who was undergoing treatment at a state hospital
• She doubled down on her statement and said that she refused to resign after calls were made for her to step down
• Ramathuba said she would only resign if the 91% of Limpopo residents who use state health care asked her to and not the 9% who could afford medical aid

POLOKWANE - Limpopo Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba remains defiant and has lashed out at those people calling for her resignation following the viral video of her.

In the video, she berates a Zimbabwean citizen for using a government hospital and state resources.

The MEC received a lot of criticism following the video and calls for her resignation have intensified.

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Private Hospital offers to cover hospital bills for woman scolded by Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba

She refuses to apologise and has doubled down on her statement. She said that she would only resign if the 91% of Limpopo residents who use public health ask her to and not the 9% who can afford medical aid according to EWN.

Ramathuba's vital rant has gone international with the BBC reporting that her comments are adding fuel to an already dangerous situation with heightened tension towards foreigners in South Africa.

Private hospital offers to cover bills for patient berated by Limpopo Health MEC

Arundel Hospital has offered to foot the bill for the woman who was scolded by Limpopo province Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba in a viral video that split social media.

The video of Dr Phophi explaining to a foreign national from Zimbabwe that foreigners are straining the country's health system left social media divided. South Africans rallied behind the MEC for putting the needs of the citizens first while some unions and others said the way she addressed the matter was wrong.

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“A true leader”: Patriotic Alliance backs Dr Phophi Ramathuba amid Zimbabwean patient rant backlash

Malawian ex-president adds to SA healthcare debate, calls out African leaders

Earlier, Briefly News reported that former Malawian President Joyce Banda has joined in the debate that Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phopi Ramathuba unintentionally ignited earlier this week.

Banda said that African leaders need to address the issues in their own countries and focus on serving their citizens rather than occupying leadership roles.

SABC News reported that Banda said the main issues African countries face are poverty and youth unemployment, which each country needs to find solutions to.

This comes after Ramathuba commented that the South African public health care system is overburdened by having to cater to foreign nationals.

Source: Briefly News