Content deleted Content added
|
|
|
== Origins, aims and activities ==
Operation Dulula was founded by [[Nhlanhla "Lux" Ngobese]] or [[Nhlanhla Lux]] (also Mohlauhi).<ref name=":0" /> Dlamini rose to prominence for his role in defending [[Maponya Mall]] from looters in the [[2021 South African unrest|July 2021 unrest]]. The group emerged from discourse that blamed migrants for the fallout and economic hardship of COVID-19 deaths and lockdowns.<ref name=":1" /> Operation Dudula led their first march on 16 June 2021 through [[Soweto]] targeting people they that they believed were foreign drug traffickers and businesses that they thought employed immigrants.<ref name="Bornman June 21">{{cite news |last1=Bornman |first1=Jan |title=Operation Dudula pushes ahead with hateful politics |url=https://theafricanmirror.africa/news/operation-dudula-pushes-ahead-with-hateful-politics/?fbclid=IwAR19lstsanYPvz4MT57wzPq3IgpYXEA5H0Pb5jhsKKVPJQCFzxEKvoQjWzo |work=The African Mirror |date=28 June 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230919055624/https://theafricanmirror.africa/news/operation-dudula-pushes-ahead-with-hateful-politics/?fbclid=IwAR19lstsanYPvz4MT57wzPq3IgpYXEA5H0Pb5jhsKKVPJQCFzxEKvoQjWzo |archive-date=19 September 2023 |language=en-ZA}}</ref> The march increased their popularity and in the following months, several other anti-immigrant groups also going by Dudula or some variation of the name, such as the separate Alexandra Dudula Movement, were established.<ref name=":0" /> In April 2022, Operation Dudula expanded to [[Durban]], KwaZulu Natal,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goba |first=Thabiso |title=Operation Dudula officially launches in KZN |url=https://www.news24.com/witness/news/durban/operation-dudula-officially-launches-in-kzn-20220410 |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=Witness |date=10 April 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> and in May 2022, to [[Western Cape]] Province.<ref name="TL May 22">{{cite news |last1=Nombembe |first1=Philani |title=Operation Dudula now targeting 'both legal and illegal immigrants' |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2022-05-15-operation-dudula-now-targeting-both-legal-and-illegal-immigrants/ |work=TimesLIVE |date=15 May 2022 |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
Operation Dudula states that its campaign is aimed at addressing crime, a lack of jobs and poor health services caused by an "influx of illegal immigrants".<ref name=":0" /> They have campaigned for small businesses to only employ South Africans, and for migrant shop keepers to close down and leave South Africa.<ref name=":0" /> Operation Dudula has been accused of a number of instances of violence against African immigrants in South African townships, including forcibly closing shops and raiding properties.<ref name="Reuters" />
|
