JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s controversial anti-immigrant movement, Operation Dudula, has intensified its activities by shifting its campaign from public healthcare institutions to schools, where it is now targeting undocumented children. The group, notorious for its vigilante-style enforcement of immigration laws, announced this week that it has begun pressuring schools to remove pupils without valid documentation ahead of the 2026 academic year.
In Soweto, the group delivered letters to several schools demanding that principals exclude children who cannot provide citizenship papers, study visas, or other forms of legal residency. The campaign is being presented by Dudula as a drive to ensure compliance with South African law, but critics fear it could deepen xenophobic tensions in communities already struggling with poverty, unemployment, and strained social services.
Operation Dudula’s leader, Zandile Dabula, said the initiative was meant to reinforce existing legislation, citing the Basic Education Amendment Act of 2004. She argued that schools were duty-bound to check proper documentation before admitting learners.
“We are here to remind principals, more especially about the Basic Education Amendment Act 32 of 2004, that when they admit foreigners in their schools, they need to make sure there’s proper documentation, such as a passport, study visa, or permanent residency. The list is long. So, we do not expect to have undocumented foreigners in schools next year,” Dabula said.
According to Dabula, Soweto is only the beginning of a broader mobilisation effort. She revealed that Operation Dudula intends to approach at least 11 more schools in coming weeks, using Ward 29—currently preparing for a by-election—as the movement’s launch pad.
“This is just the start of it. This is the first one. We have 11 schools we still need to go to. We started here in Ward 29 because this is the ward we are contesting for the by-election. We are going to use it as an example to show that this is doable,” she declared.
Anti-Foreigner Vigilantes Target South African Schoolchildren Under Operation Dudula
Her remarks highlight the political undertones of Dudula’s campaign, with observers noting that the group often times its activities to coincide with electoral contests. Analysts say the movement thrives on nationalist rhetoric, portraying immigrants as scapegoats for South Africa’s high unemployment rate, crime levels, and service delivery challenges.
The latest move has drawn a sharp response from the Gauteng Department of Education, which insists that admissions policies are strictly regulated and not subject to interference from external groups. Department spokesperson Steve Mabona outlined the criteria used to admit pupils, emphasising that they are based primarily on proximity to the school and family circumstances rather than immigration status.
“Pupils are admitted based on the admissions criteria, in the following order of priority: home address within the school’s feeder zone, sibling(s) already enrolled at the school or previous school attended, work address within the school’s feeder zone, home address within a 30km radius of the school, and home address beyond a 30km radius,” Mabona explained.
He stressed that the department would not tolerate disruptions to teaching and learning, warning that any attempts to intimidate principals or interfere with admissions could undermine the constitutional right to education.
Meanwhile, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has issued a stern warning to Operation Dudula, making it clear that the government will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone who disrupts schools.
“We want to send a very clear message: schools are not political battlegrounds, and they will not be turned into spaces of fear and intimidation. Any individual or group attempting to interfere with the admission of learners will face the full might of the law,” Gwarube said.
Human rights groups have long criticised Operation Dudula, accusing it of promoting vigilantism and deepening xenophobia. They argue that its campaigns, which previously targeted foreign-owned businesses and hospitals, have often led to harassment, violence, and the stigmatisation of migrants. The extension of such tactics into schools, they warn, could traumatise children and create divisions within communities.
Legal experts also point out that while schools may require documentation, the Constitution guarantees every child in South Africa the right to basic education, regardless of nationality or legal status. Past court rulings have reinforced this principle, ruling against attempts to exclude undocumented learners.
For parents and educators in Soweto, the campaign has created anxiety. Some fear that children could be caught in the crossfire of political battles, while others worry about the potential for violence if Dudula activists show up at school gates.
As the debate intensifies, the government faces mounting pressure to balance immigration enforcement with constitutional protections. For now, Operation Dudula’s latest offensive has raised alarms that South Africa’s ongoing struggles with inequality and service delivery are being further inflamed by exclusionary politics.
With elections looming in several municipalities, analysts predict that anti-immigrant rhetoric will remain a rallying point for populist movements. For schoolchildren in Soweto and beyond, however, the uncertainty surrounding their right to learn could become the most immediate consequence of a fight they neither started nor can control.
Source- Nehandaradio
