Breaking News: Blow for Operation Dudula as Court Stops Them from Violating Migrants’ Rights

By Maitengwe Post

JOHANNESBURG, 4 November 2025 — The Gauteng High Court has issued a landmark ruling against Operation Dudula, declaring the movement’s actions toward foreign nationals as unlawful and in violation of fundamental human rights.

The judgment follows a case brought by Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia (KAAX) and several civil society organisations, who described Operation Dudula’s activities as “a systematic campaign of unlawful xenophobic conduct” that demanded judicial intervention.

Delivering the ruling, Judge Leicester Adams stated that “the fact that an individual is a non-citizen or undocumented does not mean that their basic human rights can be violated without consequence.”

The court found that Operation Dudula’s ongoing conduct — including obstructing access to healthcare and intimidating individuals perceived as foreign — breached the rights to dignity, freedom, and personal security as protected by the Constitution.

Citing the risk of continued harm, the court granted an interdict restraining the group from harassing, intimidating, or obstructing foreign nationals from accessing essential services. Legal costs were also awarded against Operation Dudula and the government respondents, underscoring the gravity of the violations.

Human rights advocates and civil society organisations welcomed the judgment, saying it reinforces South Africa’s constitutional commitment to equality and protection for all individuals, regardless of nationality or immigration status.

Operation Dudula has yet to issue an official response, but legal analysts believe the ruling could set an important precedent for safeguarding migrant rights and curbing xenophobic violence in South Africa.