At Durban’s Addington Hospital, more than 50 undocumented patients, including refugees and asylum seekers, have allegedly been turned away since the group began protesting outside the facility on Tuesday. Zandile Dabula, leader of Operation Dudula, confirmed the movement plans to continue these actions across the country, insisting only documented foreigners with valid permits and medical insurance should be treated.

Human rights groups and refugee advocates have condemned the campaign. Eric Jean Butoki of the Southern Africa Refugee Organisations Forum (SAROF) warned that these actions jeopardize the lives of vulnerable people, many of whom depend on chronic medication and scheduled treatments. He called on the government to create permanent refugee camps to address the crisis.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) responded with a strong statement, reaffirming that access to healthcare is a right granted to everyone in the country—regardless of citizenship or documentation status. The Constitution’s Section 27 explicitly prohibits denying emergency medical treatment to anyone in South Africa.

Despite the legal framework, Dabula rejected the SAHRC’s position, saying her movement would not be “bullied” into backing down. While she acknowledged the need for life-saving interventions, she insisted undocumented individuals must be arrested before receiving care.

Political party ActionSA echoed similar sentiments, arguing that the SAHRC misinterprets the Constitution and advocating for its amendment to better regulate foreign nationals’ access to public services.

Legal experts, however, point out that the law is clear. Dr Shadi Ganoe from Wits School of Law noted that although foreign students must provide proof of medical insurance, the Constitution guarantees emergency healthcare to all, including undocumented migrants.

Meanwhile, AfriForum has entered the legal fray by seeking to join an ongoing Constitutional Court case as a friend of the court. The organization aims to argue that SAHRC’s recommendations are not legally binding and that their powers should remain advisory.

As tensions escalate, questions remain about the legal, ethical, and humanitarian implications of Operation Dudula’s growing influence and its challenge to South Africa’s constitutional values.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post Operation Dudula Sparks National Outcry After Foreigners Denied Healthcare Access appeared first on MDNtv.

The demonstration disrupted traffic along one of the city’s busiest roads, Dr Pixley KaSeme Street, as marchers voiced their concerns about rising crime and unemployment, which they attributed to the presence of illegal immigrants.

The protest was initiated by a local radio personality and supported by several political parties. Protesters accused undocumented immigrants of taking jobs meant for South Africans by accepting lower wages and working under poor conditions.

A prominent political figure at the event said the country’s economy could not grow while illegal immigrants remained. He urged government ministers responsible for policing and immigration to strictly enforce the law and remove all undocumented foreign nationals.

He also accused some businesses of exploiting these immigrants for cheap labor and threatened that future protests would involve shutting down shops owned by foreign nationals if authorities failed to act.

The speaker warned that any provocation from foreign nationals would be met with force, claiming that they were a minority and would be overwhelmed.

Another political leader in the province expressed support for all protests against undocumented immigration, saying such efforts were about protecting the country’s interests, not xenophobia. He criticized the access immigrants have to public services despite not contributing to taxes.

The post Durban Protesters Demand Expulsion of Undocumented Immigrants appeared first on MDNtv.