Operation Dudula leader Nhlanhla Lux due in the dock

Dlamini was arrested on Thursday and faces charges of housebreaking, theft and defeating the ends of justice. This is after a Soweto resident opened a case against him, claiming his home was ransacked by Operation Dudula members who had accused him of selling drugs.

Supporters of Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini have criticised his arrest, saying it is politically motivated and have also vowed to continue protesting outside the Johannesburg Central police station until he is released.

Zandile Dabula, Operation Dudula’s secretary-general, has questioned why Dlamini was being detained at the Johannesburg Central police station when the case was actually registered in Dobsonville.

“They immediately pounced on Lux after his interview with Kaya FM on Thursday. Unlike politicians and prominent people in the country, he was never afforded an opportunity to hand himself over to the police accompanied by his lawyer, as it is happening with politicians,” Dabula said.

Dabula added that when they questioned police about why he was being held at the said police station, they said they were acting on instructions from the provincial level.

Dabula claims the EFF is behind Dlamini’s arrest.

“His arrest was a surprise to all of us. We know that the EFF pressured the police to arrest him. The EFF requested that Lux be arrested within seven days [after they opened a case against him]. We didn’t expect that he would be arrested the way he was. We believe that the EFF pressured the police to arrest him. It looks like they [police] are under pressure the way things are happening,”

Even Dlamini himself had claimed so, even pointing fingers at EFF leader Julius Malema, claiming he is jealous of him. But Malema has hit back, saying: “As we speak, I am busy at a farm in Limpopo monitoring pregnancy tests of cows. The next thing I hear is that I am the one who called for the arrest of Nhlanhla Lux. Where would I be getting such powers to do that? I don’t have time for small boys, and I don’t even want to waste my time on such useless people.”