By Jide Francis
Society Page Editor
The President of the Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA), Mr. Smart Nwobi, has raised alarm over the growing number of Nigerians and other African migrants dying daily in South Africa after being denied access to public healthcare facilities.
In an interview, Nwobi described the situation as “appalling and unlawful”, blaming an anti-migrant group known as Operation Dudula for enforcing the ban. He stressed that the move has no legal basis and contravenes Section 27 of South Africa’s 1996 Constitution, which guarantees access to public healthcare for everyone without exception.
“What they are doing is xenophobic, illegal, and completely unconstitutional. They stand at public hospitals, demand identification, and drive away anyone without a South African green card, even pregnant women and children. Sadly, many Nigerians have died as a result,” Nwobi said.
Government and Medical Community React
South Africa’s Minister of Health, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, has condemned the actions of Operation Dudula, warning that preventing foreigners from receiving treatment violates both the law and medical ethics. He urged those agitating against migrants to pursue legislative changes through parliament instead of taking the law into their own hands.
Doctors across the country have also rejected the group’s directives, insisting that their medical oath requires them to treat all patients regardless of nationality or immigration status.
However, despite official condemnation, Operation Dudula has continued to block Nigerians and other foreigners from hospitals, with threats to extend its campaign to public schools by 2026.
Rising Death Toll and Fear Among Nigerians
Nwobi revealed that many Nigerians now avoid public hospitals out of fear of harassment, assault, or outright denial of treatment. In response, some have turned to self-medication, a practice he warned is worsening the health crisis.
“Nigerians are losing their lives every day. Some have resorted to self-treatment because they cannot afford private hospitals. This is dangerous and unacceptable,” he lamented.
According to him, even naturalised South African citizens of Nigerian origin are being victimised if they cannot speak local languages.
Diplomatic Efforts and Legal Action
The NUSA leader criticised the Nigerian government for failing to intervene decisively, saying the Nigerian Consulate and Embassy in South Africa have offered little response to the crisis.
“We have reached out, but they have not given us any progress report. We are now appealing directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene. The matter requires urgent diplomatic engagement,” he said.
NUSA, in collaboration with the African Diaspora Forum and other human rights groups, is pursuing legal action against Operation Dudula. The union has also organised medical outreach programmes in some provinces, paying African doctors to provide free tests and treatment for stranded Nigerians.
Broader Lessons for Africa
Commenting on the roots of the crisis, Nwobi noted that Operation Dudula justifies its actions by claiming foreigners are overstretching South Africa’s healthcare system. He dismissed the claims as baseless and xenophobic, pointing out that foreign doctors, including Nigerians, make up nearly 20% of South Africa’s medical workforce.
He added that the situation offers an important lesson for African leaders:
“If governments across Africa fixed their economies and healthcare systems, there would be less migration pressure. What we are seeing is black-on-black discrimination — Africans turning against fellow Africans because of failed leadership at home.”
Life in South Africa
Having lived in South Africa since 2008, Nwobi described the country as stable and well-structured compared to Nigeria. He highlighted steady power supply, strong healthcare infrastructure, and better remuneration for doctors as key differences, noting that South Africa’s public hospitals are often better equipped than its private ones.
Despite the challenges of xenophobia, Nwobi insisted that the majority of South Africans are welcoming, attributing the hostility to a small group of unexposed individuals.
“South Africa is a good country with good people. Unfortunately, Operation Dudula has created a crisis that is costing Nigerian lives daily. That is why we need urgent action now — both legally and diplomatically,” he concluded.
Currently, an estimated 800,000 Nigerians live in South Africa, with many at risk due to the ongoing healthcare restrictions.
