Nigerians living in South Africa have cried out over renewed xenophobic harassment allegedly carried out by members of an anti-migrant group known as Operation Dudula.
Community leaders say the group has intensified attacks on foreign nationals, including blocking access to public hospitals, forcing patients out of health facilities, and subjecting women to give birth on bare floors outside clinics.
In a viral video seen by PUNCH, a leader of the group was captured ordering non-South Africans out of a public hospital. “If you know yourself that you are not a South African, please stand up right now. Don’t try us because we are going to check everybody,” he declared as foreigners were marched out of the facility.
Founded as a grassroots campaign, Operation Dudula claims it is targeting illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and what it calls the takeover of jobs and services by foreigners. But Nigerian leaders have described the movement as a fresh wave of xenophobia.
‘Women giving birth on bare floors’
The President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), Frank Onyekwelu, told Saturday PUNCH that the actions amount to hate crimes.
“We have cried out at this ill-treatment, which we see as another form of xenophobic attack. Imagine a woman giving birth on a bare floor in an open space in front of a hospital without antenatal care or the assistance of a midwife. Some patients are being forcefully discharged without treatment. What if it is a life-and-death situation? Some of them would just die like chickens,” he lamented.
Onyekwelu said the Nigerian community had reached out to political groups and immigration bodies, while also calling on both the Nigerian and South African governments to intervene diplomatically.
Mothers, children denied care
The President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA), Smart Nwobi, also condemned the harassment, citing the case of a nursing mother prevented from immunising her baby at a public hospital.
“It is really alarming. We are appealing to the government to deploy security agents to protect public facilities so that criminals will not continue taking the law into their hands,” he said.
Nwobi stressed that Operation Dudula is not an official government body but a coalition of natives and residents, some of whom are dual citizens. He described their activities as “illegal,” noting that they contravene Section 27 of the South African Constitution, which guarantees access to healthcare.
Legal and diplomatic push
According to Nwobi, the Nigerian community has reported the matter to the Nigerian Embassy, which promised to engage South African authorities diplomatically. He added that the African Diaspora Forum is considering legal action, including filing an injunction at the South African High Court.
Another Nigerian resident, who requested anonymity, described members of the group as criminals. He noted that political parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters led by Julius Malema, have already condemned Operation Dudula and demanded investigations into its activities.
The Nigerian leaders warned that without swift intervention, the attacks could spiral into another round of xenophobic violence, similar to past episodes that claimed lives and destroyed businesses across South Africa.
Nigerians in South Africa Raise Alarm Over Xenophobic Attacks by ‘Operation Dudula’
Nigerians living in South Africa have cried out over renewed xenophobic harassment allegedly carried out by members of an anti-migrant group known as Operation Dudula.
Community leaders say the group has intensified attacks on foreign nationals, including blocking access to public hospitals, forcing patients out of health facilities, and subjecting women to give birth on bare floors outside clinics.
In a viral video seen by Saturday PUNCH, a leader of the group was captured ordering non-South Africans out of a public hospital. “If you know yourself that you are not a South African, please stand up right now. Don’t try us because we are going to check everybody,” he declared as foreigners were marched out of the facility.
Founded as a grassroots campaign, Operation Dudula claims it is targeting illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and what it calls the takeover of jobs and services by foreigners. But Nigerian leaders have described the movement as a fresh wave of xenophobia.
‘Women giving birth on bare floors’
The President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), Frank Onyekwelu, told Saturday PUNCH that the actions amount to hate crimes.
“We have cried out at this ill-treatment, which we see as another form of xenophobic attack. Imagine a woman giving birth on a bare floor in an open space in front of a hospital without antenatal care or the assistance of a midwife. Some patients are being forcefully discharged without treatment. What if it is a life-and-death situation? Some of them would just die like chickens,” he lamented.
Onyekwelu said the Nigerian community had reached out to political groups and immigration bodies, while also calling on both the Nigerian and South African governments to intervene diplomatically.
Mothers, children denied care
The President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA), Smart Nwobi, also condemned the harassment, citing the case of a nursing mother prevented from immunising her baby at a public hospital.
“It is really alarming. We are appealing to the government to deploy security agents to protect public facilities so that criminals will not continue taking the law into their hands,” he said.
Nwobi stressed that Operation Dudula is not an official government body but a coalition of natives and residents, some of whom are dual citizens. He described their activities as “illegal,” noting that they contravene Section 27 of the South African Constitution, which guarantees access to healthcare.
Legal and diplomatic push
According to Nwobi, the Nigerian community has reported the matter to the Nigerian Embassy, which promised to engage South African authorities diplomatically. He added that the African Diaspora Forum is considering legal action, including filing an injunction at the South African High Court.
Another Nigerian resident, who requested anonymity, described members of the group as criminals. He noted that political parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters led by Julius Malema, have already condemned Operation Dudula and demanded investigations into its activities.
The Nigerian leaders warned that without swift intervention, the attacks could spiral into another round of xenophobic violence, similar to past episodes that claimed lives and destroyed businesses across South Africa.
Punch
