The EFF and Operation Dudula came to fisticuffs at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital during health minister Dr Joe Phaahla’s oversight visit on Thursday.

Operation Dudula has been protesting outside Kalafong since the beginning of August, calling for the hospital to deny treatment and entry to foreign nationals.

The EFF recently mobilised its members to counter Dudula’s demonstrations and provide support to the hospital and foreign nationals.

Scuffles ensued between the opposing groups during Dudula’s protest, resulting in the police releasing teargas and firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

The chaos was triggered during a verbal exchange between the police, EFF and Dudula when a man was struck to the head by a flying brick.

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Members of opposing sides began throwing bricks and stones at each other and the police, who were trying to capture rock throwers while restoring order at the same time.

Operation Dudula initially began the protest in the morning with a relatively small group but returned later at noon in larger numbers.

Dudula members carrying shamboks were seen striking EFF protestors during the skirmish, who responded violently in return. Dudula members also set EFF flags alight.

The EFF slammed the police for not doing enough to contain Operation Dudula. The party said that the recent court interdict against Dudula gave them the authority to disperse the Dudula protest; however, they chose to do nothing.

EFF Gauteng spokesperson said that “police are just here as spectators, they do nothing”.
“The court order has been given against these people and they have still chosen to do nothing. What is the point of having the police if they don’t enforce the law?”

In a statement, the health minister called for the blocking of entry to the hospital to be stopped.

“I am hereby calling on the leaders and followers of the organisations responsible for the blockades of our health facilities to stop these with immediate effect,” says Phaahla.

No information currently has been communicated on the identity of the man struck by the brick or the arrests made during the commotion.

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