#OperationDudula, a campaign to force undocumented foreigners out of informal trading in townships, intensified at the weekend as dozens of people were chased away in the Johannesburg CBD, Alexandra and Orange Grove.
Members of the campaign chased out about three hawkers from Alexandra's Pan African Mall on Sunday morning. Others had been alerted about the unceremonious visit on Saturday and decided not to go to the mall.
Nilza Sithole, an undocumented Mozambican, was forced to leave Pan African Mall on Sunday morning when the group pounced on her stall where she sells fried fish at about 10am.
“I’m hurt and disappointed by this movement that only comes now in my 20 years of being here in this country,” said the 37-year-old mother of two.
She normally makes about R250 a day from her trade.
“That money is just to buy food for my family and get by. Whose job did I take?” she asked.
The campaign started in January when the group led by Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini descended on Bara taxi rank and forced foreigners out of their trading stalls. Several videos circulated on social media showing members burning boxes and goods that had been left behind by traders who fled.
Similar scenes were seen in other parts of the south of Johannesburg.
Two weeks ago the operation was ignited again in Alexandra when foreigners were removed from Alexandra Mall.
For some people like Sarah Dube, an undocumented Zimbabwean, the past two weeks have meant no food for her and her two children after she was chased away from her spot where she sold second-hand clothing outside Alex Mall.
“I was chased away by a group of drunk people who said I’m taking their jobs away by selling second-hand clothes behind the mall. I could barely survive last week because I only made R80 from selling from home.”
After a tough week at home, Dube, who has been in SA for eight years, returned to the mall on Tuesday as the situation had returned to normal.
“Nobody can live on R80 per week. In the few days I was back I managed to make R770. At least now I can pay my kid's school transport and buy food.”
Dube rents a shack for R650 per month. “If this operation is not stopped I might end up homeless because I won’t be able to sustain myself and my family.”
On Saturday police clashed with members of the operation in Hillbrow when they attempted to target hijacked buildings and foreign informal traders. Stun grenades, rubber bullets, teargas and water cannons greeted Operation Dudula members as police attempted to disperse them.
Police spokesperson Cpt Mavela Masondo said police were aware of the protests in Orange Grove and Alexandra and said no criminal cases had been reported.
“As police we can confirm that we are monitoring the protests and we will only make arrests when any criminal act has taken place. For now we understand that people have the right to protest and will only act when the law is broken.”
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