24 March 2022
Shamila Ntokozo Mdlongwa
Pushers of Operation Dudula are set to launch more of their campaigns against foreign nationals in KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, in South Africa on the 27th of March 2022.
This comes after alarming social media posts particularly on Twitter about a massive roll out of Operation Dudula in KZN has been making rounds this past weekend.
Operational Dudula has been making waves ever since its first launch last year, 2021, in Soweto, and has since escalated into inner Johannesburg and Hilbrow and is now set to move into KZN.
The campaings are said to be an aim to remove undocumented foreign nationals working and setting up shops and those practicing criminal ordinances in South Africa.
Despite the President of South Africa terming Operation Dudula as “breaking the law”, pushers have intensified their campaigns.
Just last week there was an attack of foreigners in Alexandra which almost turned xenophobic.
Reports say that foriegn nationals in KwaZulu-Natal are living in fear of being attacked by the campaigners.
While speaking on a local TV show in SA, Ekurhuleni police have warned vendors operating in that area to be cautious in case the infamous campaigners reach there.
Recently a group of 38 foreign nationals is said to have approached the high court for relief against the campaign targeting migrant traders, but Judge Jabu Dlamini dismissed the application, stating that it lacked urgency and there was no solid proof if the match was certain or when it was going to happen and who was spearheading it.
On Moday, the president of that country, Cyril Ramaphosa, said that members of organizations such as operation Dudula which have been targeting foreign nationals who run small businesses, demanding they leave the country, were breaking the law.
He said this during a Human Rights Day commemoration in Koster, North West.
“We can’t allow people to use vigilantism to deal with issues”, said Ramaphosa.
He went on to say:
“We say to employers; Do not employ undocumented workers because when you do, you are just going to create tensions among the people.”
While all of this is going on, reports say that there is a number of foreign nationals outside Desmond Tutu Refugee Center who are seeking “papers” (legal documentation).
Most refugee centers ceased operstions in SA due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and the lockdowns that followed rendered the immigration work impossible.
As a result most immigrants have failed to renew their documents even though registration can be done electronically. Some have been travelling from all over South Africa to the Desomd Tutu Refugee Center to try and renew their papers as it is the only refugee center that is currently operating in South Africa.
Some of the foreigners are said to have been arrested outside the center by the police because of the lack of proper documentation.
One of the leaders of Operation Dudula was quoted saying, if there is no money for the foreign nationals deportation they will themselves usher them into the crocodile infested river out of South Africa.
However, in as much as the operation demands that all jobs that are skill-related to be for South Africans, the South African Labour Act protects every worker in that country.
This was said by the South African Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxese while speaking at the SA Investment Conference which was held today.
“South African constitution and labour legislation provides labour rights and protection for all workers irrespective of the country they come from,” he said.
He also condemned the actions of operation Dudula.
While the president of South Africa has labelled Operation Dudula criminal, law enforcers are yet to take action against its advocates.
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