By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
A diplomatic row is brewing between two key regional human rights bodies after South Africa’s Public Protector publicly rebuked Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) chairperson Jessie Majome for allegedly making false claims about cross-border cooperation on the denial of healthcare to Zimbabwean migrants.
Majome, speaking in a televised interview with Newzroom Afrika, claimed the ZHRC had “formally engaged” South Africa’s Public Protector’s office regarding ongoing reports of Zimbabweans being turned away from South African hospitals.
But that claim was swiftly and sharply rejected.
On Monday, August 4, the Office of the Public Protector South Africa (PPSA) issued a statement denying any such collaboration or formal engagement on the matter.
“Following numerous media inquiries, the Public Protector South Africa (PPSA) wishes to clarify that it has no record of a complaint lodged by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), in relation to the denial of Zimbabwean nationals access to healthcare services in South Africa,” the statement read.
The PPSA did acknowledge that a meeting with ZHRC officials had taken place — but said it occurred nearly a year ago, in September 2024, and had no connection to the issue of health access or hospital discrimination.
The contradiction has sparked backlash and confusion, raising serious questions about the credibility of Majome’s remarks and the coordination — or lack thereof — between two of Southern Africa’s top watchdog institutions.
Critics have called on both offices to clarify their positions, with civil society groups warning that the issue of migrant access to healthcare is too urgent to be clouded by apparent political miscommunication or institutional turf wars.
Majome has yet to publicly respond to the PPSA’s rebuttal, but the controversy threatens to undermine efforts to address the very issue at the heart of the matter — the alleged denial of basic health services to vulnerable Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa.
Observers say the fallout may damage not only inter-agency relations but also the credibility of regional human rights advocacy, especially at a time when migrant protections remain under the spotlight.