500 HIV positive women forcibly sterilised

The National Department of Health has come under fire as almost 500 HIV positive women have been forcibly sterilised across South Africa.

DA WC Spokesperson, Lorraine Botha says; “I will write to the Western Cape Minister of Health, Nomafrench Mbombo, to determine the true impact of these forced sterilisations on the affected women in the Western Cape.”

Of the 498 forced sterilisations, 22% reportedly took place in the Eden District in the Western Cape. This means that 110 Women in the Western Cape have been subjected to a gross violation of their human rights. “This cannot go unquestioned,” said Botha.

“The DA in the Western Cape is concerned about the existence of a national health policy that guides this horrific practice. In its totality, such a policy goes against the grain of our most fundamental human rights and endorses malpractice. As such, those who are responsible must be brought to book upon a thorough investigation being conducted.

“Women in South Africa are waging a long fought battle to have their rights recognised. We cannot allow these hard won rights of women to be trampled upon by national government, because of individual health status,” concluded Lorraine Botha, MPP.