No Evidence Migrants Overcrowd Hospitals - SA Human Rights Commission

The South African Human Rights Commission has pushed back strongly against growing claims that immigrants are responsible for overcrowding in South Africa’s public hospitals, saying there is simply no evidence to support the accusation.

Speaking during a virtual migration imbizo held on May 26, 2026, the commission revealed that data gathered from the Department of Health over several years does not show that foreign nationals are occupying most hospital beds or placing unusual pressure on healthcare facilities. Instead, the commission said the country’s healthcare crisis is far more complex than many people believe.

According to the commission, the real causes of overcrowding in hospitals include long-standing problems such as staff shortages, underfunding, ageing infrastructure, and limited medical resources. Officials explained that these challenges have existed for years and continue to affect the quality of healthcare delivery across the country.

The SAHRC warned that blaming migrants for the healthcare crisis risks spreading misinformation and fueling xenophobic tensions, especially at a time when frustrations over poor public services are already high among citizens.

The commission also condemned reports of foreign nationals allegedly being denied medical treatment at some healthcare facilities, stressing that access to healthcare is a constitutional right in South Africa regardless of a person’s nationality or immigration status.

The SAHRC emphasized that hospitals and clinics are expected to provide care based on medical need, not citizenship, and urged the public to avoid spreading unverified claims that could endanger vulnerable communities.