WATCH: EFF member knocked out by hospital patient after trying to demand free healthcare for foreigners.

Pretoria, September 24, 2025 – A physical altercation broke out at the Danville Clinic in Ward 60, Pretoria, on September 23, 2025, between members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and local community members enforcing a blockade against foreign nationals accessing public healthcare services.

The incident occurred inside the clinic's waiting area, a spacious room with green walls, potted plants, and wooden desks. Video footage captured a group of approximately 10 to 15 individuals engaged in pushing and shoving. Several participants wore red clothing and berets associated with the EFF. One man in a red shirt was seen falling to the ground after receiving a punch to the face from a person in dark clothing. Others grappled near reception counters, with some attempting to separate the fighters. The scuffle lasted less than four seconds in the recorded clip, which originated from a mobile phone video shared on social media platforms.

According to eyewitness accounts posted online, EFF members arrived at the clinic to demand that undocumented foreign nationals receive medical assistance, challenging an ongoing blockade by community members aligned with Operation Dudula. Operation Dudula, a civic movement formed in 2022, has conducted patrols at public facilities to prioritize South African citizens for services, citing resource shortages. The group's supporters at the clinic had positioned themselves to bar entry to non-citizens, a tactic repeated at other Gauteng facilities in recent weeks.

One post from a local resident described the EFF's arrival as an attempt to "forcefully" allow illegal immigrants access to free healthcare, prompting patients already inside the facility to intervene. "Our patients came out and dealt with idiots of @EFFGautengProv in Danville ward 60," the account stated, adding that the community chanted "Voetsek" – a South African slang term meaning "go away" – directed at the EFF. Another observer noted that the EFF deployed members in red attire, referred to internally as "red ants," to remove the blockers from the entrance.

The confrontation aligns with escalating tensions between the EFF and Operation Dudula. On September 18, 2025, the EFF Gauteng branch opened a criminal case at Alexandra Police Station against Operation Dudula, accusing the group of culpable homicide in the death of a one-year-old Malawian child. The child reportedly succumbed to illness after being denied entry to clinics in Alexandra due to Dudula patrols. The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed it is investigating the matter. Operation Dudula leader Zandile Dabula denied the allegations, stating the group never instructed members to block healthcare and that the law should proceed.

Earlier, on September 21, 2025, the EFF Gauteng leadership announced plans for a march against Operation Dudula's blockades at the Jabavu Clinic in Soweto, where similar restrictions had been enforced. The party described its actions as defending human rights, including the right to healthcare under South Africa's Constitution, which applies to all persons regardless of documentation status. Operation Dudula responded on September 22, 2025, emphasizing that its initiatives target undocumented migration and do not scapegoat foreigners for government failures in service delivery.

The Danville blockade formed part of a broader Operation Dudula campaign that intensified in early September 2025. Since September 1, the group reported over 50 South Africans killed in unrelated violence on the Cape Flats, using the statistic to underscore community vulnerabilities. By September 23, Operation Dudula shifted focus to educational institutions, urging schools to prioritize South African pupils over foreign nationals. Dabula stated in a public address that the move addressed overcrowding in classrooms.

No arrests were reported immediately following the Danville incident, and SAPS has not issued an official statement as of September 24, 2025. Community posts on social media indicated that local residents, including non-Dudula members described as "patriots," participated in the response to the EFF. One account claimed the punch that felled the EFF member came from a civilian patient, not an organized Dudula affiliate.

The EFF has faced similar confrontations with community groups in the past. A 2022 video of a brawl between EFF members and Operation Dudula supporters in Soweto resurfaced online amid the current disputes, showing parallels in tactics and rhetoric. In Danville, posts suggested the community views the EFF's intervention as an overreach, with one stating, "EFF members can only fight with their mouths," referencing prior incidents like the 2020 Senekal farm murder protests where EFF supporters clashed with Afrikaner groups.

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Healthcare access remains strained in Gauteng townships. Clinics like Danville serve populations exceeding capacity, with wait times often exceeding hours. Operation Dudula's patrols, which began in response to perceived undocumented migration burdens, have blocked entrances at facilities in Soweto, Alexandra, and now Pretoria suburbs. The EFF argues these actions violate constitutional rights, while Dudula maintains they enforce existing immigration laws through community vigilance.

As of September 24, 2025, the Danville Clinic resumed normal operations, but local posts warned of potential repeat visits by EFF members. Operation Dudula continues its school-focused efforts, with Dabula scheduled to address supporters in Johannesburg on September 25. The EFF Gauteng office has not commented specifically on the Danville clash but reiterated its commitment to legal challenges against the group.