Motsoaledi clashes with Operation Dudula: ‘No one gets turned away from SA hospitals

Cape Town – Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi met with anti-migrant group Operation Dudula on Tuesday to discuss foreign nationals’ access to healthcare.

The group has been blocking undocumented foreigners from public clinics and hospitals, claiming they strain the healthcare system.

Motsoaledi stressed that no one can be denied medical care based on documentation status, warning that enforcing such rules could endanger lives and lead to legal consequences.

[WATCH] Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says he has met with the Operation Dudula group over their stance on undocumented foreign nationals who are accessing public health facilities in SA. He says he has warned the group to be careful, as they might turn back South African… pic.twitter.com/U6sskJ6Jgd

— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 12, 2025

“I told them they might be solving what looks like a legitimate problem but using the wrong means,” the minister said.

“In health, we treat everybody who enters who is sick, and they can’t expect us to chase people away, regardless of their nationality. It is just not allowed in healthcare.”

Motsoaledi said that many South Africans also lack IDs — about 11% of the population — and would be unfairly affected if proof of identity were strictly required.

[WATCH] Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says he has met with the Operation Dudula group over their stance on undocumented foreign nationals who are accessing public health facilities in SA. He says he has warned the group to be careful, as they might turn back South African… pic.twitter.com/ONGhgFXUCR

— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 12, 2025

“In South Africa, we have 89% documentation, which means 11% of South Africans are not documented. If you look at our population, 11% would be about 6-million people. They don’t have any form of documentation but they are not illegal because they are in their country; they are South Africans…

“If you continue to do it the way you are doing it, you are going to turn away many South Africans who are legitimate but do not have documents. Having worked in home affairs, I have met such people. I have met people who are 64 or 65 who are South Africans but never had documents, so [I am saying] be very careful.”

The meeting ended without a resolution, with Motsoaledi emphasising that issues must be addressed through law, not force.