Portrait of Cyril Ramaphosa
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Cyril Ramaphosa on Operation Dudula

Condemns xenophobic actions (strong)

TL;DR

Cyril Ramaphosa strongly condemns the xenophobic actions of Operation Dudula as un-South African and immoral.

Key Points

  • He stated that barring migrants from hospitals is 'un-South African' and violates the principle of ubuntu as of November 2025.

  • The president likened the vigilante groups' actions of demanding identification on the street to the oppressive tactics of the apartheid regime, as stated in April 2022.

  • He warned that neither the vigilante groups nor politicians inciting attacks on foreigners would be tolerated by his administration.

Summary

The President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has unequivocally condemned the actions of anti-immigrant groups like Operation Dudula, particularly when their activities involve blocking access to public healthcare facilities for foreign nationals. He stated that such behaviour is deeply disturbing, not reflective of South Africa's values, and is fundamentally un-South African. The president directly linked the conduct of these vigilante groups to the oppressive strategies used during apartheid, warning that treating people badly based on their origin is contrary to the nation's Constitution which demands respect for all people's rights.

His stance is contextualized by tragic events, such as the killing of a Zimbabwean man by vigilantes searching for foreign nationals. He views the scapegoating of migrants for social ills like unemployment and poor service delivery as a dangerous path toward xenophobia, contrasting it with the historical role African nations played in offering refuge to anti-apartheid activists. Furthermore, the president welcomed a High Court ruling that interdicted Operation Dudula from denying foreign nationals access to essential services like clinics and schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cyril Ramaphosa's position is one of strong condemnation against the xenophobic actions carried out by Operation Dudula. He views their actions, such as blocking access to healthcare, as fundamentally un-South African and morally wrong. The president has explicitly stated that such behaviour does not represent the nation's values.

Based on available information, Cyril Ramaphosa's stance has remained consistently opposed to the xenophobic actions associated with Operation Dudula. He has strongly criticized these vigilante actions on multiple occasions since at least April 2022. There is no indication that his fundamental opposition to xenophobic violence has evolved.

The president described the protests blocking people from receiving treatment at hospitals as 'very disturbing' and 'un-South African' in November 2025. Cyril Ramaphosa asserted that these actions contradict the respect for human dignity enshrined in the Constitution. He also welcomed the High Court order interdicting the group from such activities.