A growing anti-migrant movement known as Operation Dudula has been blocking foreigners from receiving care at public health facilities in South Africa.
Members of the group have been stationed at clinic entrances, demanding South African ID documents and turning away anyone who cannot provide them.
Although the Johannesburg High Court has declared their actions illegal, Operation Dudula’s influence continues to rise in a nation struggling with recurring waves of violent anti-migrant hostility.
At the Diepsloot public clinic in Johannesburg, Operation Dudula member Tholakele Nkwanyana arrived early, not for treatment, but to prevent foreigners from entering. She and other members, dressed in military-style clothing, stood at the gate asking to see patients’ identification.
Mothers with children and sick individuals were denied entry and told to seek help at private hospitals, which are not free.
These confrontations have happened at multiple public clinics across Gauteng, turning healthcare access into the latest flashpoint in South Africa’s long-running and emotional migration debate.
The High Court has ordered the group to stop intimidating migrants, but Operation Dudula says it plans to challenge the ruling.Dale McKinley, spokesperson for Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia, criticized the movement.
“We cannot allow private citizens or vigilantes to police who can or cannot access services. That is the role of government officials,” he said, noting that many South Africans themselves also lack documentation.
South Africa’s strong economy attracts migrants from neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Lesotho, as well as from nations like Nigeria and Ethiopia.
In the year ending March 31, the Department of Home Affairs deported 46,898 undocumented migrants, an 18% jump from the previous year.Operation Dudula was formed a few years ago and has grown significantly, with most of its supporters being young Black South Africans. The exact size of the group remains unclear.
Its activities have broadened from shutting down foreign-owned shops to blocking the children of migrants from public schools.
Members argue that undocumented migrants are taking jobs from locals in a country where unemployment exceeds 31%.South Africa has seen deadly anti-migrant violence before. In 2008, 68 people were killed during xenophobic attacks.
However, targeting foreigners’ access to healthcare marks a new and troubling phase, especially with Operation Dudula now operating in a structured, organized manner. The group has provincial leaders, holds press briefings, and has suggested plans to form a political movement.
