Fresh wave of anti-immigrant attacks by Operation Dudula sparks diplomatic concerns
Nigerians living in South Africa have raised alarm over a renewed wave of xenophobic threats and attacks that have left many stranded, traumatised, and denied access to basic healthcare. Community leaders say the disturbing situation has reached an unbearable point, with reports emerging of women giving birth on bare hospital floors after being chased away by anti-migrant campaigners.
At the centre of the storm is Operation Dudula, a controversial grassroots group that claims to be fighting illegal immigration and the alleged takeover of jobs and public services by foreigners. Over recent weeks, its members have reportedly blocked hospitals and public clinics, ordering non-South Africans to leave, regardless of their condition.
In one viral video, a leader of the group was captured marching foreigners out of a hospital, declaring:
> “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.”
Nigerian Leaders Raise Alarm
The President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), Frank Onyekwelu, described the actions as “another form of xenophobic attack” targeting Nigerians and other African migrants.
He lamented that many women have been forced to deliver their babies outside hospital gates without antenatal care, midwives, or medical attention.
“Imagine a woman giving birth on a bare floor in front of a hospital without medical care. Some patients are also being discharged without treatment, and in life-threatening cases, people simply die,” Onyekwelu said.
While some Nigerians who can afford it have turned to private hospitals, community doctors are stepping in to assist victims. Onyekwelu called for urgent intervention from both the Nigerian and South African governments, stressing that the attacks violate human rights and international law.
Similarly, the President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA), Smart Nwobi, condemned the harassment, recounting how a nursing mother was recently barred from accessing immunisation for her newborn.
“This morning, I received a call from a lady who was denied entry into a hospital for her baby’s immunisation. The government must deploy security agents to protect public facilities,” Nwobi appealed.
Operation Dudula’s Controversial Campaign
Founded as a community movement, Operation Dudula has expanded its campaign beyond hospitals to businesses and residential areas, accusing foreigners of taking jobs meant for South Africans.
Critics, however, insist the group’s activities are illegal and fuel dangerous afrophobia. Nwobi pointed out that some leaders of the group are themselves of dual nationality and not full-blooded South Africans.
“They claim that if you cannot speak the South African language, you are not a citizen. This is false and unconstitutional,” he said, citing Section 27 of the South African Constitution, which guarantees access to healthcare.
Nigerians Face Harsh Hostility
Beyond hospitals, Nigerians report facing hostility in airports, markets, and workplaces. One new arrival, Ify Eze, recounted being insulted by an immigration officer who called her “a crazy Nigerian.”
“The hostility is overwhelming. It feels like surviving here takes divine intervention,” she said.
Diplomats and Experts Call for Action
Former Nigerian diplomats have also condemned the harassment. Rasheed Akinkuolie, ex-Director of Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, likened the actions to “criminal thuggery rooted in apartheid-era hatred.”
He questioned why black Africans were targeted while white residents were spared.
“Why are they not confronting the white population—their real historical oppressors?” he asked.
Another retired diplomat, Ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode, warned that the attacks could damage bilateral relations and weaken African unity.
“This will strain Nigeria–South Africa relations and dent continental solidarity. Pretoria must act immediately,” he cautioned.
Nigerian Government’s Response
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that African ambassadors in South Africa are in talks with Pretoria to find a lasting solution.
Spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa assured that “African Ambassadors in South Africa are engaging the government” to address the crisis and protect foreign nationals.
Meanwhile, civil rights groups, including the African Diaspora Forum, are preparing legal actions against Operation Dudula.
Conclusion
As the crisis deepens, Nigerians in South Africa are appealing for urgent diplomatic, legal, and security intervention. Without swift action, observers fear the renewed wave of xenophobia could escalate into another violent clash reminiscent of past tragedies that claimed dozens of African lives.
For many victims, the hope is that both Nigeria and South Africa will act before more lives are lost — and before more women are forced to give birth on bare hospital floors.
