JOHANNESBURG - As the focus of undocumented foreign nationals remains under the microscope, many of them are seemingly afraid of seeking healthcare.
Civil society groups warn that this could turn into a humanitarian crisis.
Some South Africans have welcomed shorter queues at some of Johannesburg's busiest clinics, but others argue that foreign nationals are not the only cause of pressure on public healthcare.
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Officials say more than 4,000 migrants have been repatriated since March and March first issued its unofficial deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.
Civil rights groups say migrants are being unfairly blamed for government's failures.
"Any one person that enters the healthcare facility right now is placing strain because it's completely stripped of basic resources. We have hospitals without basic linen. We have hospitals that are looking for nurses and doctors," said Rivonia Pillay from the Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign.
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"So to say that it's just migrants that are putting pressure on the system is not true. The actual pressure on the system is the people who haven't been able to support the system, to make it a functional system.
"So I think instead of punching next to us, the person that is also struggling to make ends meet, we need to punch upwards. We need to hold power to account," she said.
Meanwhile, the National Health Department says it is awaiting reports on whether undocumented migrants leaving the country has truly alleviated pressure on public healthcare facilities.
- eNCA's Naomi Kobbie reports.