Cape Town – Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has called on groups preventing foreign nationals from entering public healthcare facilities to cease these actions immediately.
Her statement follows the death of a one-year-old child whose Malawian mother alleges the child died after being denied access to the Alexandra clinic.
The mother claims that Operation Dudula members blocked her from entering.
According to Eyewitness News, Nkomo-Ralehoko said: “Health services are for everybody. It doesn’t matter whether that mother is … Malawian, but that child is a child that doesn’t deserve to die.” She also added: “Before I am an MEC, I am a mother, a grandmother, and how would I feel if my grandchild died because somebody blocked that access in that clinic?”
Operation Dudula has denied that it instructed its members to block people from entering clinics. “Operation Dudula has denied this, saying it never instructed its members to block anyone from entering the clinic.”
As reported by News24, the Malawian woman, Grace Banda, said that she “pleaded with them to help my son” but was turned away. She claims her child died after this denial of access.
Civil society and rights groups have documented similar instances, MedicalBrief reported accusations that staff at clinics were aiding or not preventing vigilante groups in barring foreign nationals — including mothers trying to vaccinate newborns — from clinic queues or entry.
According to that report, Gauteng Health “denied any of its staff are involved in helping vigilante groups bar clinic access to foreigners.”
[WATCH] EFF members gather at Alexandra Police Station, in Gauteng, where they will open a case against Operation Dudula. This is in relation to the organisation preventing foreign nationals from accessing clinics in the township. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/s8FgJKhnBs
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) September 20, 2025
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng have laid criminal charges against Operation Dudula and its leader, Zandile Dabula, alleging their actions contributed to the child’s death.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
