Thousands of migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, are facing a severe disruption to essential healthcare services following a surge in anti-migrant violence across South Africa. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned that displaced individuals, many of whom have fled their homes due to intimidation and vigilante-style door-to-door searches, are currently unable to access life-saving medication and medical care.
Humanitarian Impact On Vulnerable Populations
The health crisis has intensified for those living with chronic conditions that require consistent, uninterrupted treatment. MSF nurse Phumla Tsotetsi highlighted the risks during current unrest, noting that treatment interruptions for conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis, diabetes, and hypertension can lead to severe long-term complications.
MSF is particularly concerned about continuity of care for people living with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, mental health, HIV and TB where lack of treatment or medication interruptions can lead to serious health complications.
MSF Emergency Coordinator Claire Waterhouse stated that the organisation’s primary objective remains securing access to healthcare for those most at risk. Beyond chronic disease management, the organisation has flagged the broader physical and psychological toll on migrants who have been forced to leave their communities, often seeking refuge in public spaces or at consulates.
Government Strategy And Enforcement Measures
The intensifying humanitarian concerns coincide with a government-led migration management strategy that has prioritised expedited deportation processes. Data indicates that between 1 June 2026 and 9 July 2026, courts in KwaZulu-Natal, specifically in Sherwood and eThekwini, finalised 2,640 immigration cases for deportation.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has defended the state’s position, asserting that current measures are both necessary and constitutional. Speaking on the government’s approach at a media briefing, she noted that the Department remains committed to meeting humanitarian obligations while maintaining, in her words, a firm and humane strategy for managing migration flows.
We have noted some concerns from various quarters regarding the humanitarian situation, especially at the Musina Temporary Repatriation Centre. The IMC emphasises that government’s approach is both firm and humane.
As the government continues its legal processing of deportation cases, civil society groups expect further pressure on already strained provincial health and social support systems. Future monitoring of the situation at temporary processing centres remains a critical point of concern for aid agencies operating in the region.