The Johannesburg High Court will on Tuesday hear a case brought by applicants, supported by SERI, seeking to stop Operation Dudula from continuing certain activities linked to xenophobic and racist behavior. Image: X_@KopanangAfrica
(The Post News)- Operation Dudula is facing legal action over claims of xenophobic treatment towards foreign nationals. Some groups have filed a case.
Operation Dudula, started in 2021, as a campaign that aims to reduce crime and manage the number of people coming into the country without legal permission, among other goals.
The case was filed by Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia, the South African Informal Traders Forum, the Inner-City Federation, and Abahlali Base Mjondolo. They say Operation Dudula took part in unlawful actions against foreign nationals.
The High Court in Johannesburg is set to hear a case on Tuesday against Operation Dudula, a group accused of xenophobic and racist behavior.
The people applying, with help from the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI), are asking the court to stop Operation Dudula from carrying out certain actions.
Attorney at SERI Asenati Tukela stated that the organization’s role is to enforce the powers under Section 41 of Immigration Act, which simply states that only an immigration officer can go around demanding that people produce their documents to prove their legality in the country.
The second, and most important, is to interdict and restrain Operation Dudula from the harassment and the xenophobic attacks that they have instituted against foreign nationals, which are denying people from education, access to health, and denying people basically from enjoying the human rights that are guaranteed by the constitution.
The organization is representing applicants seeking relief from harassment, xenophobic actions, unlawful evictions, and unauthorized citizenship checks in public services like schools and healthcare facilities.
The applicants are calling on the government to address the concerns of those affected by Operation Dudula. The applicants want Operation Dudula to cease its intimidation and harassment of individuals. Additionally, they are demanding an end to the group’s interference with schools, healthcare facilities, informal trading areas, businesses, and people perceived to be foreign nationals.
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