March And March: Durban Clinic ID Demands Persist Despite Disavowal

• Individuals identified as March and March supporters continue to demand identity documents from patients at Durban clinic gates, denying entry to those who do not comply, despite the group's leadership disavowing such actions.
• A recent video from Viewfinder shows a March and March supporter and a security guard demanding ID from a journalist at Lancers Road Clinic.
• The supporter explicitly stated her actions were on behalf of March and March, aiming to verify nationality, not on clinic authority, even though the group's leadership has distanced itself from clinic gatekeeping.
• This pattern of anti-immigrant blockades, including a previous incident at Addington Hospital, raises concerns about unlawful patient discrimination.
• Healthcare providers face significant compliance risks regarding patient access rights and the authority of security personnel in light of these ongoing incidents.

Healthcare facilities must urgently review their security protocols and ensure that all personnel, including contracted security guards, are fully aware of patient access rights and the limits of their authority.

Durban clinics continue to face persistent challenges to patient access, with individuals identified as March and March supporters reportedly maintaining anti-immigrant blockades. However, the leadership of March and March announced the end of their campaign of gatekeeping clinics and hospitals at the beginning of 2026 and has since disavowed these actions, stating that checking IDs is the work of law enforcement agencies. These groups demand identity documents from individuals seeking medical care at facility entrances, denying entry to those who do not comply with their requests. This practice has been observed for over a year, raising significant concerns about patient rights and the operational integrity of healthcare institutions.

A recent incident, captured in a video by Viewfinder, highlighted these ongoing issues. The footage, filmed last Tuesday morning inside the gate of Lancers Road Clinic in Durban, depicted a March and March supporter confronting a journalist. The supporter insisted on seeing the journalist's identity document, explicitly stating that her actions were on behalf of March and March, not the clinic. She articulated the group's objective, saying, "We want to see if it's your country or not. Show me what I need," before appearing to summon additional support.

The encounter escalated when the March and March supporter directed the journalist to a security guard stationed at the gate. The security guard subsequently also demanded identification, claiming to be acting under "instruction." However, when pressed for clarification, the guard declined to identify the source of these instructions, leaving the authority for such demands unclear. These March and March Durban clinic ID demands underscore a concerning trend of external groups interfering with patient access to essential services.

The actions at Lancers Road Clinic are not isolated events but rather part of a broader pattern of anti-immigrant mobilization documented by XenoBarometer, an organization dedicated to tracking such movements and their impact. XenoBarometer aims to bring to light underreported incidents, potential rights abuses, and emerging strategies employed by anti-immigrant groups, as well as shortcomings in governmental responses. The organization previously reported on March and March supporters blocking immigrants from entering Addington Hospital in Durban more than a year ago, demonstrating a sustained effort to impede healthcare access for specific populations.

The consistent demand for identity documents and the subsequent denial of entry to those who cannot produce them represent a form of unlawful patient discrimination ZA. These actions directly infringe upon the fundamental right to healthcare access in South Africa, regardless of nationality or documentation status. The explicit statement by the March and March supporter — questioning the journalist's nationality — reveals the discriminatory intent behind these Lancers Road Clinic patient ID checks and similar blockades. This occurs despite the March and March leadership's disavowal of the clinic gatekeeping campaign, stating that such actions are not part of their official mandate and fall under the purview of law enforcement agencies. These actions are designed to vet individuals based on perceived immigrant status rather than medical need.

Such anti-immigrant blockades Durban clinics create an environment of fear and exclusion, potentially deterring vulnerable individuals from seeking necessary medical attention. The continued presence of these groups, and their ability to enforce ID checks at clinic gates, highlights a systemic vulnerability in healthcare facility security and patient management protocols. The Addington Hospital immigrant denial incident set a precedent for these types of actions, which continue to undermine public health principles and patient trust.

The ongoing incidents, particularly the involvement of security personnel in demanding identification without clear authority, pose significant compliance risks for healthcare providers in South Africa. Clinics and hospitals have a legal and ethical obligation to ensure non-discriminatory access to care. When external groups or even facility security staff, acting on unclear instructions, demand IDs and deny entry, it can lead to direct violations of South Africa healthcare access rights and expose institutions to potential liability for unlawful patient discrimination ZA.

Healthcare facilities must urgently review their security protocols and ensure that all personnel, including contracted security guards, are fully aware of patient access rights and the limits of their authority. The claim by the security guard at Lancers Road Clinic of acting under "instruction" without identifying the source is particularly troubling, suggesting a potential breakdown in oversight or an unauthorized delegation of authority. This situation necessitates a clear directive from clinic management that only authorized medical or administrative staff, acting within legal frameworks, may request patient identification for legitimate administrative or medical purposes, and never as a precondition for entry based on perceived nationality.

Preventing unlawful interference with patient rights is paramount. The persistent March and March Durban clinic ID demands highlight the need for robust policies that protect all individuals seeking care from arbitrary barriers. Failure to address these blockades and clarify the roles of security personnel could result in legal challenges, reputational damage, and, most importantly, compromise the health and well-being of the community by impeding access to essential services.

This situation highlights significant compliance risks for healthcare providers in South Africa regarding patient access, non-discrimination, and the authority of security personnel. Lawyers should advise clinics on reviewing security protocols to prevent unlawful interference with patient rights and assess potential liability arising from such blockades.

Source: Original reporting via XenoBarometer and Viewfinder