Download PDFOpen Letter
To:
The Premier and People of the Western Cape
email: Alan.Winde@westerncape.gov.za
Global South Against Xenophobia (GSAX) notes the intended launch by Operation Dudula of their xenophobic movement in Cape Town on Saturday, 14 May 2022. We have serious concerns about and objections to this happening in the Western Cape, and wish to bring to your notice the violence and rights’ abrogations promoted by this movement. It is important for the authorities and people of the Western Cape to know that Dudula’s presence will result in serious conflict and suffering, especially in working class and poor communities, as has occurred in Gauteng.
A poster currently circulating on social media is misleading Capetonians about Dudula’s goals, mission and attempt to pass itself of a social justice movement focused on improving the country’s economy by expelling non-locals/foreign national in order to put South Africans first in line for jobs and business opportunities. It is claiming preventing non-locals from having legitimate work and business opportunities will bring peace to the country and that non-locals are largely responsible for crime in the Republic. Dudula is promoting these as the reasons for poverty in South Africa, and are misrepresenting non-locals as contributing nothing of value to the country.
These are outrageous and dangerous claims, aimed at riling people and inciting hatred and violence against poor and working class non-locals. The truth is, it is not refugees, asylum seekers and migrants seeking to make a life here from African and Asian countries who are responsible for post-Apartheid SA’s gross inequalities. It is the ruling and all governing parties that are responsible for this failure due to their mismanagement, corruption and unethical and inefficient conduct as politicians. Neo-liberal economic pursuits favoring profits over people and criminalizing of the poor are responsible for enduring unemployment and poverty. The suffering of the majority people in South Africa, with little improvement in quality of life since the end of apartheid is the cause of justifiable anger. However, the situation is exploited by right wing, fascist and opportunistic groups to target the marginal non-local population in South Africa. Yet the vulnerability of non-locals is the result of poor integration policy and services for them.
Further, the emergence of right wing, fascist groups in our democracy is dangerous. Operation Dudula, since it’s inception in May last year and it’s accelerated activities in Gauteng since February this year, evidences a violent agenda and disposition. Dudula has, disgracefully, embarked on physical, verbal and psychological attacks against non- locals. It’s members undertake unlawful raids on the properties (homes, businesses, street trading stalls), confiscate and damage their goods and properties, and conduct illegal evictions. They also do spot checks for papers that result in assaults and murders of those targeted. Inhumane, barbaric live burnings of non-locals in Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal have been directly linked to Dudula in the past three months. It’s members are also known to terrorize and extort money from non-locals, threatening them with burning and death if they do not pay up; the late Mr Nyati in Diepsloot and an unknown victim in Soldier’s Way in Durban are two such cases. Community activists and the media report that Dudula members threaten to raid and close the business of non-locals if they do not pay them during raids. Numerous such incidents have been reported to the SAHRC and UNHCR for investigation.
Effectively, Dudula has reintroduced the draconian pass system into South African society. This must not be tolerated given the hard fight put up by the people of SA and the world to abolish this demeaning system during the anti-apartheid struggle. Thus, the claim by Dudula that their launch and presence in the Western Cape will be peaceful and disciplined is not to be trusted. Actions to ensure they do not succeed in their nefarious and criminal operating in the Western Cape are urgently needed. This must necessarily involve the Western Cape provincial and local governments. Dudula must not be allowed to do whatever they please in the province, and should be strictly monitored and held accountable for any and all abrogations, including hate speech, incitement of violence and any other actions that effectively break the law. The Premier must bring pressure on the SAPS and Metro Police to ensure that any action by Dudula that leads to violence during it’s proposed march is met with the required police intervention.
Further, the public must be educated and encouraged to take a firm stance against xenophobia through an effective public education campaign. An adequate, dedicated budget for this is needed, with partnerships with local community activists and leaders as well as civil society organizations prioritized. The needs and challenges of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants must be listened to and responded to effectively.
These actions are critical to promote social cohesion and prevent violence and loss of lives in our communities.
We wish to also note that the poor and working class people of the Western Cape, as in the rest of the Republic, are constantly and unjustly criminalized for the very poverty foisted on them as well as for their attempts to merely survive. This is neither wise nor fair; the effectiveness of governance may be judged by the society it produces, which in turn is judged by how it’s most vulnerable members are treated. The Western Cape has a proud anti-apartheid history—the home of the United Democratic Front (UDF) that fought for the inclusion of all people in South Africa’s bounty. This history asserted the predominant wish of its people to move away from unjust governance in order to build a peaceful society in which all peoples can thrive. This is still the case. The opportunity to assert this via a decisive anti-xenophobic stance that engages local and non-local groups to work together towards this should not be missed.
We therefore recommend the Western Cape government and local wards take immediate steps to stop Dudula gaining a foothold in the province. As well, they must show leadership in engaging the people of the Western Cape—including via civil society and community leaders—in anti-xenophobic actions. This will go a long way in preventing needless waste of money stemming from xenophobic conflict that could be used for job creation and improved social services for all. Such efforts will ensure the building of our province as a home where all feel a sense of belonging and well being.
For further information, please contact:
Roshila Nair—064 877 0434
Mercy Dube—072 599 7688
Endorsed by:
1. Assembly of the Unemployed (AOU)
This press statement was released by the People’s Coalition on 13 May 2022.
