Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has criticised Operation Dudula, saying that his party, the African National Congress (ANC) does not support “a vigilante-type of move” against foreign nationals.
Ramaphosa said this on the sidelines of the ANC Mpumalanga conference over the weekend.
“We’ve got a vigilante-like force organisation taking illegal action against people they are targeting and these things often get out of hand, they always mutate into wanton violence against other people.
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“And we’ve always said let’s act within the parametres of the law. Let us act within the framework of the law. And if we are unhappy about anything that is not being done at state level, let us have it addressed.
Watch, as Ramaphosa speaks to eNCA
“So we 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,” said Ramaphosa.
According to EWN, Ramaphosa’s views differed from ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe, who in an interview with Mail & Guardian backed communities that stood up to illegal activities.
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The Mail & Guardian reported last week that Operation Dudula had garnered strong support from various political parties, including the ANC, which contended that as the governing party, it had been far too “flexible” in dealing with undocumented immigrants.
Operation Dudula is an anti-migrant protest movement in South Africa that has gained momentum in recent months.
Its leader, Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini, was arrested recently and charged with housebreaking and malicious damage to property.
He was granted bail of R1 500, and is expected back in court on May 27.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
