After having the nation divided with their effort to remedy the ill effects of illegal immigration, the leaders of Operation Dudula have revealed that the movement will be tackling the Department of Basic Education next year January when schools open.
According to StatsSA, the number of immigrants recorded in the country reached approximately 2.4 million in 2022, and continues to grow. Some South African citizens have been vocal about their frustration regarding the presence of illegal immigrants in the country, as they highlight the various challenges brought about by the crisis, including the horrifyingly high unemployment rate.
Operation Dudula, a movement that describes itself as a “campaign aimed at addressing crime, a lack of jobs and poor health services caused by an influx of illegal immigrants”, has emerged at the forefront of the citizen-led movement to relieve the state’s overburdened resources by limiting services to citizens only. Over the past few weeks, clips of Operation Dudula members turning away foreigners seeking healthcare at various public facilities have been circulating.
These foreigners went to a clinic to collect their ARVs but Operation Dudula denied them an entrance. pic.twitter.com/8TC6MzNMe0
— Sir Cabonena Alfred (@Lebona_cabonena) July 31, 2025
WATCH: #OperationDudula removing illegal foreigners who went to a clinic without any documents, all 3 foreigners do not have legal documents to be in a country.@PhophiRamathuba @1DUDULA @Maveste21105389 pic.twitter.com/gK8gI9ScGJ
— PSAFLIVE (@PSAFLIVE) January 19, 2023
As these efforts continue, talks of taking the movement to the Department of Basic Education appear to be the next step, as members reveal that similarly to public clinics and hospitals, they will be stationed at various public schools, where they will only allow South African children to go through with the registration process.
Members of the organisation cite schools that are filled with undocumented learners, while citizens struggle to find placement in their local schools.
Operation Dudula has announced that it will be targeting undocumented foreign nationals in public schools.
The organization has been facilitating the forced removal of undocumented foreign nationals in public healthcare facilities pic.twitter.com/xKXbKo6naw— Judaeda Blanco (@Judaeda3) July 29, 2025
[TALKING POINT] Operation Dudula is set to launch a campaign in December to block what they describe as illegal foreigners from accessing public schools in the new year.
How do you view the planned campaign by Operation Dudula?#sabcnews #FirstTakeSA pic.twitter.com/mgrSrman4k
— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) July 31, 2025
