Police boss, MPs denounce action of anti-immigrant groups

Operation Dudula, March and March movement block healthcare access for undocumented foreigners

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA AND SIMON MAJADIBODU

NATIONAL Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has said that there was no dedicated police unit to deal with Operation Dudula and other movements around the country that are blocking undocumented people from accessing healthcare services.

While their actions are illegal, Masemola said that the police's Public Order Policing (POP) will only respond if public disruptions occur.

Masemola made the remarks during a media briefing in Olifantsfontein, Pretoria, yesterday, where he oversaw the destruction of more than R400 million worth of confiscated drugs. This was the first time Masemola has publicly commented on the issue, following continued reports of Operation Dudula and the March and March Movement barring undocumented migrants from seeking medical treatment at public health care facilities.

“On Operation Dudula, we don’t have a unit specifically to deal with them. We have Public Order Policing (POP) countrywide, and their job is to deal with crowd management,” Masemola said.

According to SAPS, the POP Unit is responsible for maintaining public order, managing public gatherings, major events and protests.

“So wherever there are problems, they do go out and assist,” Masemola explained.

“They cannot wait at a clinic just in case something happens - they have a lot of work to do. But as and when we have an indication that there may be a problem, we will respond to those health institutions accordingly.”