A Zimbabwean national was reported to home affairs by Robertson hospital regarding a passport that has expired
It is alleged that the Zimbabwean national who was admitted at the hospital received treatment at the hospital and later reported.
A withheld name patient went to the hospital for the first time without any challenges. She was handed a hospital file without questions but when returning for the second time, they required a passport. As she offered her identity document, the receptionist said she would not be assisted as her visa had expired. The receptionist told the patient that the hospital would keep the passport for seven days while contacting Home Affairs.
After few days, the patient received a call from the hospital saying she should come and collect her passport. She went to the hospital and few minutes later, the patient was introduced to the Home Affairs officials.
The officials offered the patient forms to fill and informed her to seek money therefore to go back to Zimbabwe. They said after getting a bus ticket, she should go to the hospital to collect her passport then go back to Zimbabwe.
Department of Health’s Cape Winelands District Sandra Maritz said according to section 44 of Immigration Act, it allows the department a person receiving services as a citizen of the country to report the case.
“They should report the cases where their status is not clear or illegal to the department”, said Maritz.
Legal Resource Centre attorney Elgene Roos said according to section 44, it gives clarification of a person’s status where possible.
“This indicates that there is no need to verify the status or citizenship of someone in order to render services”, said Roos.
