The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has delivered a landmark ruling against the anti-migrant movement Operation Dudula, issuing a comprehensive interdict that bars the group and its members from engaging in unlawful actions targeting foreign nationals.
The ruling, handed down on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, comes after ongoing reports of Operation Dudula members allegedly blocking access to public facilities — particularly healthcare centres and schools — in an effort to prevent foreign nationals from accessing services.
In its judgment, the court declared the group’s conduct unlawful and unconstitutional, and laid out strict prohibitions:
- Members of Operation Dudula are barred from interfering with or restricting access of foreign nationals to healthcare services, schools, and workplaces.
- The group is forbidden from harassing, intimidating, or assaulting any person identified as a foreign national.
- The court clarified that only SAPS officers or immigration officials have the authority to request identity documents or passports — not private citizens.
- The movement is prohibited from making hate speech or discriminatory statements based on nationality, ethnicity, or social origin, whether in public, on social media, or in any form of communication.
- Operation Dudula members are restrained from evicting foreign nationals from homes, trading stalls, or workplaces unlawfully.
This ruling has been hailed as a major victory for human rights and constitutional justice, reaffirming that all individuals — regardless of nationality — are entitled to dignity, safety, and equal access to essential services in South Africa.
