Operation Dudula will abide by a High Court ruling barring it from its xenophobic actions, and from denying access to public health facilities by undocumented migrants, but leader Zandile Dabula says the movement will appeal the ruling, and that public clinics and hospitals are overwhelmed by the influx of foreign nationals.
The Star reports that at a media briefing last week, Dabula urged members to comply with the court order for now, but said the judgment “sets a dangerous precedent that may weaken law enforcement, erode state capacity to manage illegal immigration, and undermine the interests of South African citizens”.
“We have instructed our legal team to launch an appeal to protect the interests of South Africans and the rule of law,” she said, adding that her party had noticed more political parties adopting hardline stances on undocumented immigrants.
“Operation Dudula is five-years-old this year, and nobody wanted to associate with us, especially other political parties,” she said.
“We were the only party vocal about immigration issues…but now more parties are joining this fight.”
Her comments came after the Gauteng High Court's (Johannesburg) recent interdict against Operation Dudula, preventing its members from harassing, intimidating or obstructing foreign nationals.
It also prohibits the group from making hate speech, interfering with access to healthcare or education, or evicting migrants from homes, stalls or workplaces.
The court ruled that only immigration and police officers, acting under section 41 of the Immigration Act, are authorised to request identity documents.
Dabula criticised the judgment, saying it effectively sought to “shut down” Operation Dudula.
“Everything mentioned in that judgment is what we tackle daily,” she said, accusing the ANC of hypocrisy, saying it had ignored immigration concerns when in power but was now “becoming more vocal” as public pressure grew.
Where is our ubuntu?
President Cyril Ramaphosa, meanwhile, has said that groups that bar migrants from accessing healthcare “don’t represent South Africa’s values”, and that it was “disturbing to see how ordinary people are being forced out of our health services just because they come from other countries”, reports Daily Maverick.
“This is not us. This is un-South African,” said Ramaphosa during a parliamentary question and answer session last week.
“This is not ubuntu. Our ubuntu … must be clearly put on display in promoting and respecting their dignity and treating them just as we want to be treated.”
His response was prompted by ActionSA’s Kgosi Letlape’s question of how the President would ensure “the pain of taking care of our guests in health services is not only borne by the ordinary (people) who rely on public services, but by all South Africans, especially members of this House to be able to make actions of groups like (Operation) Dudula and March to March not necessary”.
Ramaphosa said that during apartheid, other countries, including in Africa, gave refuge to anti-apartheid activists like OR Tambo.
“Much as we have challenges in our resources, in our hospitals and clinics, it does not mean that we have to be cruel. It does not mean we have to treat other people badly.”
Without naming Operation Dudula, he said: “What those organisations have been doing is un-South African. It’s not us… They don’t represent who we are, and we must all say so.”
The Star PressReader article – we will not be stopped Operation Dudula (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Court orders Operation Dudula to stop targeting migrants
Interdict bid against Operation Dudula dismissed over lack of urgency
Murder charge against Operation Dudula after baby’s death