SAHRC Engaged With Fannie Masemola To Protect Foreign Nationals’ Rights to Healthcare

• The South African Human Rights Commission engaged with the South African Police Service's National Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, to protect the rights of foreign nationals
• The organisation urged Masemola to prevent groups like Operation Dudula from violating foreign nationals' right to access healthcare in the country
• The Commission also slammed Operation Dudula's activities as unlawful, and South Africans criticised them
• Operation Dudula spoke to Briefly News about its operations and defended itself

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 South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) doubled down on its criticism of Operation Dudula's anti-migrant operations as it called on the National Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, to ensure that foreign nationals' rights to access healthcare are not violated.

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The SAHRC held a press briefing on 9 September 2025, where it released several reports on the country's state of human rights. The Commission's commissioner, Tshepo Madlingozi, said that foreign nationals should not be scapegoated for the problems in the country's healthcare system. He said that no organisation must play the role that the Department of Home Affairs must play in managing immigration.

SAHRC calls on Masemola

Madlingozi also said that the SAHRC has engaged with Masemola and the Department of Health. H said the SAHRC called on the police to do their work in ensuring that everyone, including foreign nationals, has access to healthcare. He also said that the SAHRC will announce the steps it will take to prevent the anti-migrant operations from continuing.

A look at Operation Dudula's activities

Operation Dudula has stirred public debate about the condition of South Africa's public healthcare system. This was after it embarked on various campaigns, alongside March and March, to remove foreign nationals from public healthcare facilities. Dudula said that it uncovered criminal activities in hospitals, alleging that foreign nationals smuggled medicine out of the country.

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Migration expert Dr Loren Landau spoke to Briefly News about Dudula removing foreign nationals from public healthcare facilities. He said that Dudula's actions constituted an erosion of state sovereignty. Landau added that allowing a private actor or organisation to determine foreign nationals' rights disempowers the state.

Operation Dudula speaks to Briefly News

Speaking to Briefly News, Operation Dudula defended its operations.

"Operation Dudula is not anti-African. We are pro-South African. We advocate for the rights and dignity of citizens who feel abandoned by the state. Our demand is simple, respect the rule of law and put South Africans first," the organisation said.

South Africans react

Netizens commenting on Facebook were not impressed with the SAHRC's stance.

Mashudu Raseropo said:

"Those who have travelled told us that nothing is free outside South Africa."

Beverley Thomas said:

"No one is preventing them. There are many private hospitals they can go to."

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Qiniso Mhlanga said:

"That's a no-brainer. Immigration, whether it is an existential issue or not, is not the responsibility of the Human Rights Commission, or any civil rights organisation for that matter."

Riki Tiki Tavi said:

"Not at the expense of lawful South Africans."

Thuli Vetties said:

"Foreigners must have medical insurance."

Operation Dudula threatens legal action after members' release

In a related article, Briefly News reported that Operation Dudula threatened legal action against the police after two of its members were released on warning., The members were arrested for reportedly forcefully removing a pregnant foreign national from the Lilian Ngoyi Clinic in Diepkloof, Soweto.

Dudula's president, Zandile Dabula, said the legal team is working on taking action against the police. She said that their arrest was unlawful.

Source: Briefly News