SAHRC Urges Police To Stop Operation Dudula From Blocking Foreign Nationals At Hospitals

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has stepped in to address growing concerns over Operation Dudula’s controversial activities at public hospitals against foreign nationals regardless of their immigration status.

The commission has formally approached National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, urging him to prevent the group from blocking foreign nationals from accessing healthcare services.

Operation Dudula members have recently been spotted at the entrances of several health facilities, monitoring patients and questioning whether they are South African citizens before allowing entry.

Human Rights Violations Under the Spotlight

On Tuesday, the SAHRC released reports stating the most common human rights violations recorded during the past financial year. One of the pressing issues identified was the intimidation of patients by unlawful groups such as Operation Dudula.

Operation Dudula argues that the influx of foreign nationals—regardless of their legal status—has led to overcrowding in public healthcare facilities and has decided to take laws into their hands by stopping them.

The movement claims that South Africans would not receive the same treatment in other African countries and insists that healthcare access should be reciprocal. However, this claim was not backed up with any evidence.

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The SAHRC, however, has made it clear that Operation Dudula is overstepping the law. Commissioner Tshepo Madlingozi stated:

“It’s unlawful for any citizen or anyone to try to enforce immigration laws. No one is allowed to play the role that is supposed to be played by Home Affairs.”

Civil society organisations have criticised the government for what they describe as turning a blind eye to Operation Dudula’s xenophobic actions against foreign nationals, warning that failure to act could fuel further human rights abuses.

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