The controversial group Operation Dudula has vowed to continue its campaign targeting undocumented foreign nationals, despite facing legal challenges and condemnation from political parties and human rights organisations. The group’s leader, Zandile Dabula, stated that they are “not backing down” from their operations at public facilities, including schools and clinics.
This declaration follows recent events that have placed the group under intense scrutiny. A one-year-old child died last week after his Malawian mother was allegedly prevented from accessing the Alexandra Clinic by members of Operation Dudula. Gauteng Health MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, made a plea for the group to cease blocking access to healthcare, questioning, “how would I feel if it was my grandchild?”
In response to the child’s death, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) opened a criminal case against the group. Gauteng police have confirmed that an inquiry docket has been opened. Dabula has stated she will let the law run its course and will not comment on the specifics of the case now that it is under investigation.
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School and clinic exclusions
The group’s activities extend beyond healthcare facilities. On Monday, 22 September, members of Operation Dudula visited schools in Soweto as part of a mobilisation campaign to prevent undocumented migrant children from enrolling in public schools for the 2026 academic year.
This action has drawn sharp criticism from Parliament’s Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries. The committee’s chairperson, Makhi Feni, condemned the conduct as a distraction to school operations and a potentially traumatic experience for children. Rights groups like Equal Education and the Equal Education Law Centre have also denounced the campaign, stating it is a “direct violation of the Constitution” and that schools must be “safe spaces for education, not sites of division and discrimination.”
Operation Dudula, which means “to force out” in isiZulu, was established in Soweto and has since become a political party. It campaigns on the platform that the presence of migrants contributes to crime, unemployment, and strained public services. Despite being widely described as xenophobic, the group denies these motives.
Image: Operation Dudula protested in Braamfontein on 17 July 2025. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
