PRETORIA – A coalition of civil society organisations has taken legal action against Operation Dudula, the South African Police Service (SAPS), and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), accusing them of enabling xenophobic violence and unlawful actions targeting migrants.
The matter is currently before the Pretoria High Court, where the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) presented arguments on behalf of the applicants, which include organisations such as KAAX, Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM), the Informal Traders Network, and the Inner City Federation.
At the centre of the case is a demand for accountability from state institutions accused of turning a blind eye—or even abetting—the intimidation and harassment of immigrants by Operation Dudula, a controversial movement accused of taking the law into its own hands.
The Southern Africa Network for Immigrants and Refugees (SANIR) has thrown its support behind the court challenge, describing the legal effort as vital to defending the constitutional rights of all who live in South Africa, regardless of their nationality or immigration status.
Leading institutions such as the South African Human Rights Commission, Section27, Media Monitoring Africa, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights have also lent their voices to the case, signalling the importance of the legal battle.
SANIR’s Head of Partnerships and Programmes, Claude Marie Bernard Kayitare, described the proceedings as a pivotal moment for the rule of law and democratic values. According to SANIR, the organisations involved in the challenge are acting in defence of vulnerable communities who have been subjected to unlawful evictions, arrests, and acts of intimidation.
The legal teams representing SAPS and the Department of Home Affairs are expected to present their arguments as the case progresses.
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