National Police Commissioner admits lack of dedicated unit for Operation Dudula

In a telling concession, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has acknowledged that the South African Police Service (SAPS) does not possess a specialist unit to confront the growing threat posed by Operation Dudula and similar groups targeting undocumented foreign nationals within public health facilities.

His remarks came during a media briefing in Olifantsfontein, Pretoria, where he oversaw the destruction of more than R400 million in confiscated drugs.

Masemola confirmed that, while there is no dedicated task force for Operation Dudula, the police are relying on their Public Order Policing (POP) division to manage disturbances when they arise.

“On Operation Dudula, we don’t have a unit specifically to deal with them. We have Public Order Policing (POP) countrywide, and their job is to deal with crowd management,” Masemola stated.

The Public Order Policing units are tasked with managing protests and major public gatherings, but they cannot be present in clinics at all times.

“They cannot wait at a clinic in case something happens – they have a lot of other work to do. But as and when we indicate that there may be a problem, we will respond to those health institutions accordingly,” Masemola added.

This admission raises significant concerns over the safety and rights of foreign nationals seeking medical care.

Masemola’s comments mark the first instance where he has addressed the targeting of foreign patients by Operation Dudula publicly.

Reports have recently emerged detailing how this group, alongside the March and March Movement, has attempted to impede undocumented migrants from accessing healthcare, citing an overburdened system that should prioritise South African citizens.

The situation became particularly fraught earlier in the month when three members of Operation Dudula were arrested after storming the Lilian Ngoyi Clinic in Diepkloof, Soweto.

These individuals allegedly disrupted a maternity ward, insisting that patients present their identity documents, which led to widespread chaos and panic among both patients and medical staff.

Following their arrest, the three women, aged between 49 and 60, were released on a warning after their court appearance at the Orlando Magistrates’ Court.

Despite the arrests, the absence of a tailored police strategy to address Operation Dudula’s campaigns remains alarming.

Instead, SAPS continues to deploy Public Order Policing officers on an ad hoc basis, arriving only when tensions escalate, thereby underscoring a reactive approach rather than a proactive one.

IOL