Court rules SA’s Operation Dudula acts unlawfully, protects foreigners’ rights

Foreign nationals including Malawians living in South Africa can now breathe a sigh of relief after a South African High Court ruled that Operation Dudula’s actions of preventing foreign nationals from accessing healthcare and education were unlawful and xenophobic.

According to a report by SABC, the court’s landmark decision has ordered the anti-immigration group to immediately cease its activities that target foreigners, marking a major victory for migrant communities who have long faced harassment and exclusion.

SABC reported that the court further prohibited Operation Dudula from intimidating, assaulting, inciting hate speech, or unlawfully evicting foreign nationals from their homes.

The ruling also restricts police from conducting warrantless searches or demanding documents in private homes, allowing such actions in public spaces only when there is reasonable suspicion of an offence.

The decision comes after months of tension and reports of abuse against foreigners in South Africa, many of whom come from neighbouring countries including Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.

Meanwhile, civil society groups across the region are hailing the ruling as a strong reaffirmation of constitutional rights and a critical step toward protecting vulnerable migrants from discrimination and violence.