Foreign Nationals cannot be treated like animals, they too have rights.
Under international law, migrants have human rights by virtue of their humanity. Migrants in South Africa are vulnerable to human rights violations because they are not citizens and, due to their status, often live in precarious situations
For the past months, the Operation Dudula movement has been investigating businesses and shops operated by foreigners throughout various townships in South Africa. This came after it was reported that a portion of those businesses is allegedly promoting and selling illegal, drugs and fake merchandise.
Operation Dudula wants the majority of businesses run by foreigners to be shut down as the industry should be exclusive to South African citizens only.
A Twitter user, who refers to himself as Lawyer Joe, has taken the situation a step further and called for foreigners from Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, and Zimbabwe to be banned from running businesses in the hair and beauty industry.
He asserted that this business is meant for South African citizens only. He further urged foreign business people to permanently shut down their hair and beauty businesses or face the wrath of Operation Dudula from unemployed South Africans.
Meanwhile, earlier this week ANC officials expressed their concern over the attack on foreigners.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, condemned the Dudula movement during the human rights day commemoration on the 21st of March 2022, saying they are contravening the law. Earlier Employment and labor minister Thulas Nxesi said the government will not allow South Africans to treat foreign nationals like animals because they too have rights.
In addition, the African National Congress Veterans’ League (ANCVL) said they are not sitting idly by and watching the backlash against foreign nationals from the Operation Dudula Movement, which has spread to various townships in Gauteng and beyond
ANCVL President Snuki Zikalala this week chastised the movement’s members on the backdrop of clashes with foreign-shop owners in Alexandra Township in Johannesburg last week, TimesLIVE reported.
Directing a harsh word of advice to protesters, Zikalala urged them to stop harassing foreign nationals and, instead, go to school and acquire skills that will allow them to be effective and increase their chances of getting employment in South Africa.
The movement descended in Benoni in Ekurhuleni at the weekend, with demonstrations reportedly erupting in Daveyton.
In an earlier Newsroom Afrika interview, Zikalala decried Operation Dudula, calling it dangerous and exploitative towards the jobless.
“A large majority of South African youth are unemployed. I believe Dudula is dangerous because they saw a gap and began stirring South Africans’ emotions. However, as the ANC, we view what they are doing as barbaric,” said Zikalala.
He said Operation Dudula members were not law enforcement authorities and should not assume the role of the police. He added that immigrants should not be harassed for any reason.
“Those Dudula movement members must go to school, acquire skills and not pester foreign nationals. It is improper,” added Zikalala.
