by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – AFTER wreaking havoc in the health sector, where they are barring foreign nationals from accessing clinics and public hospitals, anti-migrant pressure groups in South Africa have expanded their campaign to the education sector.
They are campaigning that effective the beginning of the new school year in January 2026, schools do not accept children of foreign nationals but prioritise locals.
This is under the “Put South African Child First.”
Adding to credence that this is Afrophobia, again, this campaign is targeting schools in the townships and other formal settlements largely housing migrants.
Operation Dudula launched the campaign at some schools in Soweto on Monday.
Dudula is vernacular for “get rid of, in mass.”
Members have been moving around the vast, historic townships, delivering letters urging local public schools not to enroll undocumented foreign nationals in the next academic year.
Soweto is world-famous, having nurtured the fight against the apartheid government after police shot dead scores of protesting school children.
“No South African child will be deprived of education in favour of illegal foreigners,” said Zandile Dabula, leader of Operation Dudula.
In a strange turn of events, in recent weeks, there have been allegations she is originally from neighbouring Zimbabwe.
However, at the launch of the campaign to bar children of foreign origin from school, Dabula dispelled these reports.
“We are aware of the plottings launched to de-campaign me,” she told followers in Soweto.
“I’m a bonafide citizen of this country. I was born and bred in Diepkloof, Soweto, not in Zimbabwe,” she emphasised.
Dabula blamed the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for these campaigns against her and Dudula.
While Dudula advocates for South Africa to put the interests of the locals first, EFF campaigns for open borders.
These differing stances have set the Operation Dudula and EFF on a warpath.
The Julius Malema-led EFF has filed a murder charge against Operation Dudula at Alexandra Police Station, northern Johannesburg, accusing members of the operation of blocking a Malawian mother from accessing a public clinic in July, which allegedly contributed to her one-year-old son’s death.
“The EFF Gauteng maintains that Operation Dudula is more than a criminal gang masquerading as a community structure,” the party stated.
EFF has denounced the conduct of Dudula members, who stand guard at gates and demand South African identity documents for individuals to access clinics or hospitals.
This is seen as akin to the apartheid era when Blacks were required to carry identity documents. This heralded the downfall of the minority government.
“Denying people, whether South African or migrants, access to healthcare is not only illegal. It is a public health danger,” EFF stated.
EFF has also marched in Soweto as the Operation Dudula crackdown misfired, as some South African nationals that were not in possession of identity documents were denied access to clinics.
The fallout illustrates the ongoing tensions in South Africa over healthcare access for non-citizens.
Operation Dudula and other smaller like-minded pressure groups like March on March have defied government orders to halt their operations.
The inaction by the government of President Cyril Ramaphosa has emboldened them to expand their operations to schools.
Following the plight that foreign nationals have endured during the pressure group expelling them from clinics, apprehension has set in that schoolchildren of foreign nationals are to suffer.
This campaign at school now means children are the most affected by this anti-immigrant sentiment, considering they already are denied access to healthcare.
Among children denied access are those seeking mandatory vaccination.
South Africa is battling an influx of nationals from other countries in the continent that are experiencing economic and political crises.
Zimbabweans comprise the largest population, with estimates suggesting up to 3 million are resident in the neighbouring country.
Zimbabwe’s economy, as well as its education and health sectors, were in the 1980s the pride of Africa. They have all collapsed under controversial policies by the government and sanctions imposed by some Western governments.
At a time when South African pressure groups are denying foreign nationals access to school and health, Zimbabwean professionals in these sectors have fled to South Africa.
– CAJ News