South African anti-immigrant group to run in 2024 election

DW (English)

Operation Dudula, an anti-migrant group in South Africa, has registered as a political party to run in the 2024 election. The group has become notorious for raiding businesses owned by foreign nationals, aiming to drive them out of the country.

Transcript

00:00 Why are you here?

00:02 Why are you here in our country?

00:05 This is Operation Dudula.

00:07 They want migrants to leave South African townships and are ready to force them out.

00:13 Their intentions are clear in the name.

00:16 Dudula means "push out" in Isuzulu.

00:19 They believe too much of the township's economy rests in the hands of migrants.

00:27 Up until now, Operation Dudula has focused on closing down shops

00:31 they claim were set up illegally by foreign nationals.

00:35 Now the organisation has decided to re-brand itself as a political party,

00:42 aiming to run in South Africa's 2024 national elections.

00:47 Anti-foreigner rhetoric is at the core of their policies.

00:52 That's why they've been accused of xenophobia and inciting violence against migrants.

00:57 Operation Dudula is not a xenophobic group.

01:04 We are not vigilantes.

01:08 We are a peaceful movement actually.

01:12 We refuse to share the little that we have.

01:21 With foreign nationals. We refuse.

01:23 South Africa's political environment is quite competitive

01:29 and support at community level doesn't automatically translate into votes.

01:34 However, Operation Dudula believes that the issues it is campaigning on,

01:38 which include unemployment and poverty,

01:41 will resonate with residents of Soweto and other townships across South Africa.

01:47 Over 40% of people of working age are currently unemployed in South Africa

01:52 and this has led to tensions over jobs.

01:55 Many migrants accept lower wages and work longer hours than locals.

01:59 If you go to many of the companies, they've hired a lot of migrants.

02:06 Now people who travel from different parts of South Africa looking for work can't get any jobs.

02:13 But Operation Dudula has shown us that we should do things for ourselves.

02:18 In my area, most of the houses are owned by foreigners.

02:22 It's become unaffordable for local people.

02:25 In the build-up to the election, the organization plans to intensify its raids on township shops called Spazas.

02:41 They claim the foreign-owned shops are operating illegally,

02:44 are selling expired goods and want the stores to be taken over by South Africans.

02:49 Many of these shops are run by people from Ethiopian, Pakistani or Somali communities.

02:56 They've made South Africa their home and believe the country's constitution offers them protection.

03:03 It says South Africa belongs to all who live in it.

03:07 There must be a plan of integration, economic integration in the communities.

03:13 That's why we should not look as enemies.

03:17 We have to help each other. We have to think together.

03:22 And if some problem, we have to look for a solution together, not in isolation.

03:27 Dudula won't give a solution for the location, for the community.

03:34 Operation Dudula is setting up branches in all nine provinces.

03:38 While their support is growing in some townships, their policies don't reflect the views of all communities.

03:45 Many South Africans live alongside migrants from across Africa and beyond.

03:51 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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