Mouste Health Crisis Committee lodges complaint against Limpopo health MEC, Ramathuba
MOUTSE – Moutse Health Crisis Committee (MHCC) has lodged an Equality Court action against Limpopo MEC for Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba.
The MHCC which was established to fight for the rights of residents of Moutse to quality health care had on Wednesday, 30 May 2018 lodged a formal complaint with the Equality Court in Groblersdal following a meeting on the stoppage of funding for the Ndlovu Care Group addressed by the Ramauthuba on April 16 2018.
This after the MEC allegedly said HIV/AIDS is with the black community but the money the department channels goes to white people.
Seun Mogotji, Bolsheviks Party of South Africa leader (BPSA) said the alleged statement was extremely racist, offensive and patronizing, made with the sole intension to demean black people in general and those living with HIV/AIDS.
Mogotji said it was also made with the intension to discriminate and incite hatred against Ndlovu Care Group CEO, Dr Hugo Tempelman who served the Mouste community for over 23 years.
He added it was unforgivable that the MEC was not just in her position but a medical doctor who hardly had any respect for her colleagues and other dedicated doctors who served the Moutse community with distinction and pride.
“Instead of the MEC focusing on partnering with community and other role players to address the scourge of HIV/AIDS regardless of colour, gender or ethnicity, she has elected to use abhorable tendencies such as discrimination to cover up for her failures,” said Mogotji.
He further said he right to health care was protected by the constitution of the Republic of South Africa and not an act of kindness of the MEC.
“It is regrettable that Limpopo Premier, Chupu Mathabatha, and the provincial government despite knowledge of her utterances have done nothing. We can only assume they agree with her bigoted views on black people and condone racism,” added Mogotji.
MHCC concluded they condemned in the strongest possible terms the conduct of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which despite the complaint with them, elected not to investigate and deal with the complaint.
The committee added instead of the SAHRC decided to facilitate a deal between the department and Ndlovu Care Group, which would further violate human rights of patients.
“We reiterate that in our eyes the SAHRC has discredited itself and we are pleased that the Polokwane High Court in Limpopo has given us an audience to challenge the deal facilitated by the SAHRC. We are optimistic that when the High Court delivers its ruling on June 15 2018, we will be vindicated,” concluded Mogotji.