Byline: Kelebogile Masemola

29 March 2022

On Tuesday, 29 March 2022, members of Operation Dudula marched to factories at Rosslyn in Tshwane to submit a memorandum of demands against the employment of illegal foreigners.

The movement is demanding that businesses based in the automotive hub take account the employment of South Africans over foreign nationals.

The march comes a day after their leader Nhlanhla Lux Mohlauli was granted bail after he was arrested last week for allegedly raiding the home of a suspected drug dealer.

Operation Dudula in Tshwane has given companies in Rosslyn 14 days to act in accordance with their demands regarding the employment of foreigners.

“Today we are to visit companies to ensure that they are complying with our labor acts and ensure that the employment services act is in force, section 8 of the employment services act which says jobs are for South Africans, jobs must be given to South Africans first.

“Unless you’re a foreign national, you are in South Africa to offer a critical skill as per the immigration act 2002,” Victoria Mamogobo, National Chairperson of Put South Africa First said.

A large number of Operation Dudula members gathered outside the Rosslyn police station on Tuesday from where they marched to submit a memorandum calling on companies including Afrit and Praga to “put South Africans first”.

General Secretary for Operation Dudula, Zandile Dabula, said they decided to visit Afrit and Praga in view of the fact that they were among the larger companies in Tshwane.

“We know they have ghost employees and they’ve got foreigners who do not have documents, we are going to the department of employment and labour.

“We have submitted a letter requesting a meeting with Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi but we have not received feedback,” said Dabula.

Representatives demanded that the authorities inspect who was employed at companies and if necessary enforce the law.

Both the companies denied the claims, saying the majority of their employees are South Africans, with less than 1% of the workforce being foreigners.

Operation Dudula Deputy Chairperson, Dan Radebe said the operation would be carried out throughout Rosslyn.

“We are launching Operation Dudula in Rosslyn to ensure that industry prioritises South Africans over foreigners.

“Foreigners must be in possession of work permits that allow them to be employed in South Africa because having a passport does not mean you have a work permit,” Radebe said.