South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has described Operation Dudula as a “vigilante-like force”, which the ruling African National Congress (ANC) can’t support.
According to Eyewitness News, Ramaphosa told reporters on the sidelines of an ANC conference that the party “cannot support a vigilante-type-of move against a group of people and particularly targeting them as foreign nationals because what we are doing then is just to divide our people on the African continent.”
But ANC spokesperson, Pule Mabe, told the Mail and Guardian recently that they support communities that fight for against illegal activities in the country.
Operation Dudula activists claim that Zimbabweans, Mozambicana and other nationals have grabbed most jobs and locals have also been pushed out of market places, which are supposed to be utilized by South Africans.
Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini, the leader of Operation Dudula, was recently arrested and charged with housebreaking and malicious damage to property. Dlamini and his colleagues raided a local home claiming that the owner, a member of Economic Freedom Fighters, was selling drugs.
Hundreds of foreigners have been tormented by Operation Dudula activists, who have evicted so-called illegal immigrants from rented homes, market places and businesses.
Some Zimbabweans have welcomed Ramaphosa’s remarks with caution saying the ANC appears to be supporting Operation Dudula.