ActionSA Backs Operation Dudula’s Concerns, But Condemns Its Lawless Tactics

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has voiced support for Operation Dudula’s frustrations over illegal immigration but distanced his party from the group’s controversial and unlawful actions.

The newly formed political movement, born out of community frustration, has sparked outrage after its members were filmed blocking access to public hospitals and clinics, allegedly preventing foreign nationals from receiving medical care.

Last week, the Johannesburg High Court stepped in, granting an interdict that bars Operation Dudula from targeting foreign nationals at health facilities and instructing police to take action should the group defy the ruling.

A Shared Concern, Different Paths

Mashaba, who has long been vocal about illegal immigration since his days as Johannesburg’s mayor, said he understands the public’s frustration. However, he emphasized that the fight against illegal immigration must happen within the boundaries of South Africa’s Constitution.

“Here we are, seven or so years later, everyone is talking openly about illegal foreigners being a curse to our nation,” Mashaba said. “We have to deal with them, but we must do so within the legal framework. One of ActionSA’s core values is the rule of law.”

He added that ActionSA is already working through Parliament, provincial legislatures, and municipal councils to find solutions that balance national security and human rights.

Calls For Order Amid Growing Division

The debate over immigration remains deeply polarising in South Africa, where an estimated 2.4 million foreign nationalsmaking up less than 4% of the populationlive and work. Social media has been flooded with mixed reactions: some South Africans applaud Operation Dudula’s “direct action,” while others condemn its tactics as unconstitutional and inhumane.

Critics argue that targeting foreign nationals in hospitals crosses a moral and legal line, especially in a country with a painful history of xenophobic violence. Civil society groups have warned that such actions could reignite community tensions.

Mashaba’s Message To Dudula

Mashaba revealed that he has met with Operation Dudula leaders in an attempt to steer them toward lawful activism. “We told them they must work within the Constitution to achieve their objectives,” he said.

The ActionSA leader, who built his political reputation on law-and-order policies, continues to frame the immigration issue as one of governance and enforcement, not hostility. “South Africans have every right to demand accountability and secure borders,” Mashaba said, “but mob justice and intimidation have no place in a democracy.”

{Source:EWN}

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