EFF says party’s fight against Operation Dudula is to protect the human rights of South Africans

JOHANNESBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said that it will always stand up for what is “politically correct” as it takes up a fight against Operation Dudula’s blocking of foreign nationals from accessing public healthcare facilities.

On Saturday the red berets laid a criminal charge at the Alexandra police station, against the organisation and its leader Zandile Dabula for allegedly causing the death of a one-year-old child.

It’s been reported that Malawian national Grace Banda was prevented by Operation Dudula members from entering the Alexandra Clinic to get assistance for her sickly child.

The organisation denies that it instructed its members to block Banda.

The EFF has been criticised in some quarters for its Pan-Africanism posture and not taking a tougher stance against illegal immigration.

Last year, ahead of the general elections, EFF Leader Julius Malema said that the party will never adopt a xenophobic stance, just to win votes.

The EFF's Gauteng leader Nkululeko Dunga said that the party’s fight against Operation Dudulais to protect the human rights of South Africans.

"Outside of the protection of human rights, individual human rights, its also the protection of the very same South Africans as well who can fall victim of this particular nature. At times, I am mistaken to be someone of illegal immigration, they tell me I am a Pakistani, where is your ID and I am born and bred here. Should I be denied access to healthcare on the basis there is someone standing at the gates and defines being South African in their own narrow-minded perspective.”

Operation Dudula has previously said it only wants to stop illegal immigrants from accessing public healthcare, despite government saying it doesn’t have the authority to do this.