South Africa calls on foreign nationals to be 'well-mannered guests'

Cabinet has called on foreign nationals to be "respectful and well-mannered guests".

The call follows the discovery of anti-retroviral (ARV) medication at the scene of a deadly bus crash.

The bus, which was travelling from the Eastern Cape to Zimbabwe, was carrying Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals when it veered off the N1 highway in Limpopo, killing 42 people.

Among the wreckage, authorities found a box containing ARV medication and other prescription drugs.

A full-scale investigation has since been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the apparent smuggling of essential medication.

Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni described the matter as deeply concerning.

"Cabinet calls on foreign nationals to be well-mannered guests in South Africa and reminds everyone that it took a lot of effort to stop the recent unsavoury treatment meted out against foreign nationals at local clinics. Unfortunately, the proof that confirms brazen theft of medicines from government clinics do not assist efforts to restore conditions for foreign nationals to access public health care."