National Department of Health To Meet With Operation Dudula After Members Were Released From Jail

• The Department of Health said that it has called on Operation Dudula to have a meeting to discuss a possible end to its operation
• This was after members of Dudula were released on warning in Soweto on 11 August 2025, after spending a few days in jail
• The department said that it would not tolerate disturbances to the healthcare system following Dudula's campaigns to remove foreign nationals from public healthcare facilities

Tebogo Mokwena, a dedicated Briefly News current affairs journalist, contributed coverage of international and local social issues, including health, corruption, education, unemployment, labour, service delivery protests, and immigration in South Africa, during his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

JOHANNESBURG — The Department of Health says it has reached out to Operation Dudula to discuss a solution to Dudula's anti-migrant campaign after three of its members were released on warning on 11 August 2025 in Orlando, Soweto.

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According to SABC News, the Department's spokesperson, Foster Mohale, said that it has reached out to Dudula's leadership for a meeting to address Dudula's recent activities. Dudula and March and March have been, since June this year, removing foreign nationals from public healthcare facilities.

Foster said that the issue is not mainly about health, but sober minds could come up with lasting solutions. Operation Dudula's president, Zandile Dabula, said that it has uncovered criminal activities in public healthcare facilities and is acting in response to the needs of the public.

Department slams Dudula

However, the department does not agree with Dudula's tactics. Foster said that disruption of healthcare services will not be tolerated and slammed the recent protest outside of the Lilian Ngoyi Clinic in Diepkloof, Soweto. Three members of the organisation were arrested and charged with public violence and contravening the National Health Act.

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Dabula accused the South African Police Service of unlawfully arresting the three members and not reading them their rights or following due process. She said that the organisation is considering taking legal action.

South Africans discuss

Netizens commenting on Facebook shared their views.

Thande Thandeka said:

"The National Health Department needs to learn the SA constitution."

Khulumi Bhekswayo said:

"In a country where there is no government, people must stand up and defend their land."

L.J Mamashila said:

"The pain of going to the clinic as a South African and being told that there is no medicine."

Christel Oosthuizen said:

"Immigrants can visit private healthcare!"

Alison MK said:

"Operation Dudula will eat SA one day. If you keep a small python, it will eventually swallow you one day. The purpose for which Dudula is founded is not unity."

Panyaza Lesufi admits the government failed

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In a related article, Briefly News reported that Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi weighed in on the crisis of illegal immigrants in the country. He said that the government did not adequately address the presence of undocumented foreign nationals in South Africa.

Lesufi said that it was concerning that the government does not know how many undocumented foreign nationals are in the country, why they are here, or how they arrived in the country. He said that while campaigns like those of Dudula may seemingly provide short-term solutions, more permanent solutions are needed to resolve the crisis.

Source: Briefly News