Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi Issues a Warning to Operation Dudula

• The Minister of Health, Dr Aaro Motsoaledi, met with members of Operation Dudula following its recent operation at the Lilian Ngoyi Clinic in Diepkloof, Soweto
• Motsoaledi's meeting with Operation Dudula came after the department reached out to the political party to discuss its ant-migrant campaign
• He cautioned the political parties of not inadvertently turning away South Africans with valid documentation

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, GAUTENG — The Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, warned members of Operation Dudula not to target South Africans without proper documentation in their ant-migrant campaign of removing undocumented foreign nationals from public clinics.

According to TimesLIVE, Motsoaledi spoke after he met with Dudula on 12 August 2025 and said that Dudula might be solving a legitimate problem using the wrong means. Motsoaledi reiterated that no one should be denied healthcare in the country.

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Motsoaledi said that Dudula suggested that clinic and hospital clerks should reject illegal foreigners and prevent them from receiving medical assistance for failing to prove their identity. Motsoaledi also said that because 89% of South Africans were documented, 11% of South Africans do not have documents. He said that despite them not having documentation, they are not illegal immigrants. Motsoaledi said that the department and Dudula did not end the meeting with a proper conclusion.

Why did Motsoaledi meet with Operation Dudula?

The meeting happened a day after members of Operation Dudula were released on a warning on 11 August 025. They appeared before the Protea Magistrates Court on charges of public violence and contravening the National Health Act. This was after they protested outside of the Lilian Ngoyi Clinic on 7 August and removed a pregnant woman from the premises.

Dudula and March and March have been removing undocumented foreign nationals from public healthcare facilities since the beginning of June. Speaking to Briefly News, Dudula said that the operation was motivated by a need to enforce immigration laws, as the public healthcare system is burdened by foreign nationals as well.

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What was the response to the operation?

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) slammed Operation Dudula's campaign and said that foreign nationals' right to healthcare is protected by the Constitution. In response, Dudula accused the SAHRC of favouring foreign nationals over South Africans.

The Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko slammed the operation and said that Dudula or other citizens had no right to remove undocumented foreigners from public healthcare facilities. She said that she would be required to account for any death at public healthcare facilities that would occur in the province as a result of Dudula's operation.

Panyaza Lesufi weighs in on foreign nationals

In a related article, Briefly News reported that Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi weighed in on the crisis of foreign nationals who were using the country's public healthcare system.

Lesufi said that the government failed to adequately address the influx of undocumented migrants into the country.

Source: Briefly News