Operation Dudula leader in Durban appears in court for inciting public violence

Operation Dudula’s leader in Durban, Philani Gumede, has appeared in the Durban Magistrate Court on Wednesday on charges of incitement to public violence and the contravention of the Cyber Crimes Act.

It’s alleged that 36-year-old Gumede created and forwarded a voice note to members of Operation Dudula, saying people should gather and remove foreign nationals, lock up their shops and remove their goods.

Operation Dudula is a movement that has been seen in different parts of the country protesting and demanding foreign nationals to produce proof that they are legal in the country. The movement is planning a march in Durban on Sunday to launch the movement in KwaZulu-Natal.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara says Gumede was granted R5 000 bail. One of the conditions is that he may not use social media to incite violence.

The case has been remanded to May 24.

Condemnation 

Delivering the closing remarks at the Mpumalanga Provincial Conference, African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa weighed in on the activities of Operation Dudula, which is waging a campaign against undocumented foreign nationals.

He said their activities must be stopped.

In the video below, Ramaphosa delivering the closing remarks at the Mpumalanga Provincial Conference:

Echoing the President’s condemnation, Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said only law enforcement agencies have the authority to demand documents of anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally.

His statement is in response to operation Dudula members’ alleged search for migrant employees and shop owners who do not have valid documents in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg last month.