Operation Dudula's Conduct Slammed By High Court

(The Post News) – On the 4th November 2025, the High Court in Johannesburg, passed down a ruling that Operation Dudula misconduct in schools and hospitals has not gone unnoticed and therefore has no power in preventing undocumented foreigners from accessing education and healthcare services.

Socio-economic Rights Institute (SERI) of South Africa brought the case to the court’s attention on behalf of various groups. This case holds the Dudula Operation accountable for the following human rights violations: intimidation, harassment and immigrant targeting.

High Court Dishes Out Ruling

The High Court of Johannesburg had ruled in SERI’s favour, stating that Operation Dudula’s actions implicate South Africa to be a xenophobic country and has no regard for lawfulness towards foreign nationals.

The High Court has prevented the Operation from inducing halts at health care facilities and schools.

Nkosinathi Sithole who is SERI’s litigation director made a statement: “This an exciting moment, not only for our stakeholders but also for the South African constitution.”

“Considering what we have been witnessing from Operation Dudula being a dastardly criminal conduct, like blocking people from accessing healthcare service at facilities and pregnant women being in a compromised positions.”

“Demanding identity documents from the public and disrupting scholastic procedures for leaners are all declared as unlawful acts and have been interdicted from doing such.”

“The court did not only talk about Operation Dudula, but it touched on the state holistically. This is inclusive of the Minister of Police and Minister of Home Affairs to say that he too must ensure that they are complacent in acts carried out by Operation Dudula.”

Sithole further stated that: “The state cannot simply enter people’s homes and start carrying out raids. A search warrant must be present and must be in possession of them.

“In public, they must have a clear and reasonable suspicion that someone is an undocumented foreign national before asking the individual for any form of identification.”

Members of the Operation Dudula group, as they were outside court, mentioned that they are not intending on changing their stance and conforming to society or the law, and will continue to do what is required of them on South African streets.