Democratic Alliance (DA) has urgently called on Acting Police Minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia, to deploy public order policing units to protect healthcare facilities and ensure that Operation Dudula does not block foreign nationals from receiving healthcare services.

This follows disturbing reports of foreign nationals being blocked from accessing public hospitals and clinics in Gauteng and KZN, with groups such as Operation Dudula and March on March accused of aggressively targeting vulnerable individuals seeking medical care.

In a statement, the DA condemned what it described as “despicable hindering and intimidation” by these organisations.

The party emphasised that South Africa’s Constitution—specifically Section 27—guarantees the right of every individual, regardless of nationality, to access healthcare services, including reproductive health and emergency medical treatment.

“While South Africa’s public health sector indeed faces vast constraints and challenges – many of them due to corruption and mismanagement – this is not the fault of desperate foreign nationals seeking medical care,” the DA said.

The party has submitted parliamentary questions to determine how the Department of Health was addressing the alleged failure to protect patients from xenophobic intimidation at state-run medical facilities.

The DA warned that refusing healthcare to foreign nationals could have devastating public health consequences, particularly in the fight against communicable diseases.

“If we stop treating any person with communicable diseases, vast outbreaks will follow which will directly affect South Africans too,” the statement read.

Rather than holding corrupt and incompetent officials accountable, the DA argues, groups like Operation Dudula are scapegoating the most vulnerable in society.

The party challenged these organisations to redirect their focus towards genuine systemic failures within the provincial health systems.

“Perhaps Operation Dudula could ask the Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, and his Health MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, why they’re still failing to provide radiation therapy to cancer patients despite a court order?” the DA asked pointedly.

“Instead, these groups do none of these things, because it’s easier to blame vulnerable foreign nationals than actually try and clean the mess in their own backyard.”

Adding to the condemnation, EFF leader Julius Malema also weighed in, calling on authorities to launch a formal investigation into Operation Dudula.

Malema accused the movement of fuelling xenophobic sentiments and warned that their actions could inflame tensions in already vulnerable communities.

“Operation Dudula is a group of thugs and must be subjected to the Political Killings Task Team. Period!” Malema said.

The DA reaffirmed that healthcare was a fundamental right, not a privilege reserved for citizens alone.

“Stopping communicable diseases demands that every sick person be treated in public health facilities. Healthcare is a right that belongs to us all, no matter where we come from,” it said.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

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