A Johannesburg court has ordered Operation Dudula to stop blocking people without South African ID — mostly foreign nationals — from entering schools and hospitals. The judge ruled the vigilante group's actions unlawful and banned the group from issuing statements that amount to hate speech. He also criticised government failures to implement the National Action Plan against racism and xenophobia. Human rights groups welcomed the ruling and warned they will seek enforcement if police do not act.
Johannesburg Court Halts Operation Dudula — Orders End to Public-Access Blocks and Bans Hate Speech
A Johannesburg court has ordered Operation Dudula to stop blocking people without South African ID — mostly foreign nationals — from entering schools and hospitals. The judge ruled the vigilante group's actions unlawful and banned the group from issuing statements that amount to hate speech. He also criticised government failures to implement the National Action Plan against racism and xenophobia. Human rights groups welcomed the ruling and warned they will seek enforcement if police do not act.
02:12, 06.11.2025Society
Johannesburg court orders Operation Dudula to stop blocking access
A Johannesburg court has ordered the anti-immigrant vigilante group Operation Dudula to cease preventing people who cannot produce South African identity cards — typically foreign nationals — from entering public facilities such as schools and hospitals.
The ruling follows incidents in August when members of Dudula were arrested for obstructing public entrances; those detained were later released with warnings. The judge found the group's conduct unlawful, saying private citizens may not take it upon themselves to enforce the law.
These risks are not confined to non-citizens. Any citizen who is undocumented or has lost or misplaced their identity documents would face the same risks.
Judge Leicester Adams also criticized the national government — specifically the Departments of Justice and Home Affairs — for failing to implement the country’s National Action Plan (NAP) to combat racism, discrimination, xenophobia and other intolerances. He said the government's unexplained failures to give effect to critical components of the NAP amount to an unconstitutional dereliction of duty.
The court additionally barred Operation Dudula from issuing public statements that amount to hate speech targeting people because of ethnicity, social status or national origin.
Official figures indicate South Africa is home to more than 2 million migrants, representing under 4% of the population. The group’s name comes from the Zulu word "dudula," meaning to "remove by force."
Racism and xenophobia have been persistent problems in South Africa both before and after apartheid, and tensions have at times turned deadly. Groups like Operation Dudula target migrants largely from neighbouring countries including Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, arguing newcomers strain already stretched public services.
Concerns about safety prompted the temporary closure of a 300-pupil school in Jeppestown to protect students and staff.
The human rights organisation Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia welcomed the judgment, saying it provides critical protection for those vulnerable to xenophobic attacks and pledging to pursue accountability if police do not enforce the court order.