JOHANNESBURG – Operation Dudula leader Zandile Dabula is at the center of a heated controversy, as she faces growing calls for her deportation amid claims that she is a Zimbabwean national. Dabula has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them a politically motivated smear campaign aimed at discrediting her and her anti-immigrant movement.
Dabula, who has been under fire on social media this week, insists she is a genuine South African citizen. “I was born and bred in Diepkloof in Soweto and not in Zimbabwe,” she told reporters on Monday. She attributed the claims to her political opponents, specifically members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who she says are behind the “plottings” to undermine her.
Launched in 2021, Operation Dudula has gained notoriety for its aggressive campaigns targeting undocumented immigrants. The group has been widely condemned for its confrontational methods, which recently included blocking foreign nationals from accessing public health facilities. The group claims this is necessary to alleviate pressure on South Africa’s overstretched healthcare system.
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The movement’s controversial actions escalated this week when it threatened to prevent foreign children from enrolling in public schools, prompting a swift response from the Gauteng Department of Education. The department reaffirmed that all children, regardless of nationality, have a constitutional right to education.
Human rights organizations, including the South African Human Rights Commission, have criticized Operation Dudula’s tactics, warning that they violate fundamental human rights and contribute to rising xenophobia in the country.
Despite the widespread condemnation, Dabula remains defiant. She maintains that her activism is rooted in patriotism and a desire to prioritize the needs of South African citizens. The ongoing debate over her identity and her movement’s methods continues to fuel national outrage and deepen political divisions across South Africa.