Immigrant mothers in Johannesburg are being prevented from vaccinating their children at public clinics by members of the vigilante group Operation Dudula, despite a 2023 Gauteng High Court ruling guaranteeing free healthcare for mothers and young children, regardless of nationality or immigration status.
The court mandated that the Gauteng Department of Health display notices in all healthcare facilities affirming that pregnant and lactating women and children under six cannot be denied access to free services. However, compliance has been inconsistent. Since 2023, Operation Dudula members have frequently targeted Jeppe Clinic, where they remove court-ordered notices from display, and separate immigrants from clinic queues, instructing them to stand aside.
Jane Banda, a Malawian mother, has been unable to vaccinate her seven-week-old baby, expressing fears for her child’s health. Aisha Amadu, an asylum seeker from Malawi, was turned away from Jeppe Clinic, as was Grace Issah, whose 14-week-old baby missed a scheduled vaccine. Other women reported similar experiences at clinics in Malvern, Kensington, Rosettenville, and Soweto.
The Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI), representing groups like Kopanang Afrika Against Xenophobia (KAAX), has challenged Operation Dudula’s actions in court, seeking an interdict to declare their interference unlawful. The case, heard in June 2025, awaits judgment. Mike Ndlovu from KAAX condemned the group’s actions as unconstitutional and a violation of human rights, urging healthcare workers to uphold non-discriminatory care.
The South African Human Rights Commission has also criticized Operation Dudula’s actions. The Department of Health, through spokesperson Foster Mohale, denied staff involvement but acknowledged the issue, stating that clinic managers are instructed to alert police during such “protests.” However, enforcement remains inconsistent, and Mohale did not confirm compliance with the court-ordered notices.
Operation Dudula member Veli Ngobese, present at Jeppe Clinic, justified the group’s actions, claiming they target foreign nationals to reduce strain on public resources. He stated their protests would continue until immigrants stop accessing clinics, a stance critics argue contravenes South Africa’s Constitution, which guarantees healthcare access for all.
