READ: South African Citizen Airlifted from Zimbabwe Due to Healthcare Crisis

Johannesburg, South Africa – On April 28, 2025, a South African citizen working in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, was airlifted back to South Africa after being unable to receive necessary medical treatment. The individual fell ill while on a work assignment, prompting South African authorities to coordinate an emergency response. The patient was transported by ambulance from Bulawayo to Beitbridge, the border town between Zimbabwe and South Africa’s Limpopo Province, before being airlifted by helicopter to a medical facility in South Africa.

Upon arrival in Limpopo, the patient was received by Dr. Phophi Ramathuba, the Premier of Limpopo Province, and Dieketseng Mashego, the MEC for Health. The operation highlighted the challenges of cross-border healthcare coordination, as Zimbabwe’s public health system reportedly lacked the capacity to provide adequate care. The incident has drawn attention to the ongoing healthcare difficulties in Zimbabwe, where public hospitals have faced shortages of medical supplies, staff, and infrastructure for years.

The South African government deployed its air mercy service, a volunteer-led aero-medical organization operational since 1966, to facilitate the rescue. This marked a significant effort to ensure the patient’s safe return and access to treatment. Details about the patient’s condition and the specific reasons for the lack of treatment in Zimbabwe remain limited, though official statements confirmed the airlift’s success.

Zimbabwe’s healthcare system has been under strain, with reports indicating a lack of essential resources such as personal protective equipment and diagnostic testing capabilities, issues that have persisted since at least 2021. In contrast, South Africa’s response demonstrated its capacity to mobilize advanced medical evacuation services, supported by partnerships with provincial health departments and emergency response units.

Dr. Ramathuba, who assumed the role of Limpopo Premier in June 2024 after serving as MEC for Health, has emphasized her commitment to addressing healthcare challenges in the region. The incident underscores the disparities in medical infrastructure between the two neighboring countries and the complexities of providing care to citizens abroad.