19 January 2022
Shamila Ntokozo Mdlongwa
The Operstion by the South African Foreign Minister, Aron Motsoaledi, to flash out illegal immigrants from that country has culminated into mob groups taking the law into their hands.
Dupped Operation Dudula the mobs have gone on a spree of evicting illegal foreign nationals, the latest being the clearing of Bara Taxi Rank (Soweto) and removal of so-called illegal foreign residents in Reconstruction Development Programme houses (RDP) in Turfformtein, Johannesburg.
The seige, seemingly, is not backed by any legal instruments but is no doubt well planned though one cannot discount the involvement of the State.
The “clean-up” campaign led by military veterans of the South African liberation struggle and Umphakathi (community members) sieged the Bara Taxi Rank and vandalized foreigners’ vendor stalls. Casting their stock to one side and burning it up.
Videos of the siege have gone viral on social media.
While in Turfforntien, Johannesburg, alleged Zimbabwean illegal foreign nationals and other foreigners from other African nations are seen in videos on
rooftops as they attempted to flee from the mobs surrounding the RDP houses who were making crude alarming xenophobic remarks.
Those in lead in the area are the groups of military veterans, Umphakathi wearing t-shirts printed “Operation Dudula” and there is a police van that is loading in “illegal foriegners.”
Other videos circulating are those of Operation Dudula mobs evicting and calling on on the arrest of the illegal foreigners selling fake goods particularly alcohol.
There are WhatsApp voice audios that are also trending of South African men that planning on hiring ‘inkabi’ (hitman) to kill all Zimbabwean and other foreign truck drivers in South Africa. This was one of the major reasons that led to the march which was held in Diepkloof last year because of the influx of foreign truck drivers in Mzansi.
This Operation Dudula officially took force on the infamous 45th Anniversary of June 16 Soweto Uprising following the oppressive apartheid forces killings thus the South Africans celebrated it differently last year by organizing a march in Diepkloof Soweto against illegal immigrants.
The term Dudula is a Zulu word for “push”.
Meanwhile, in Polokwane in a small township called Seshego the locals there are planning a march dubbed “Operation Sepelang” which translates to ‘go’.
The march is going to take place on the 23rd of January at 10am at the Seshogo Staduim Parking.
However, while all of this taking place the South African government is mum and CIC Julia Malema is the only prominent political figure that has reacted to the situation by releasing a statement stating that he will be visiting restuarants to access the foreign and locals workers ratio.
The unfortunate part about most of the illegal immigrants is that they migrated to Mzansi fleeing political, social and economic hardships back home.
Zim GBC news