On Saturday and Sunday, several hundred protesters marched through downtown Johannesburg. Grouped under the name “Operation Dudula”, these demonstrators accuse undocumented foreigners from surrounding countries of monopolizing low-skilled jobs (grocers, taxi drivers, truck drivers, waiters).
South Africa has nearly 4 million foreigners, all statuses combined (refugees, illegal immigrants, expatriates). With an unemployment rate of 35%, even 66% among young people (15-24 years old), anti-immigrant discourse is resurfacing in a country which has already experienced several waves of deadly xenophobic violence such as in 2008, 2015 and 2019.
For the moment, the movement remains peaceful despite the tensions it causes. Our correspondent Roman Song followed an Operation Dudula procession through the inner city of Hillbrow in Johannesburg.
The demonstration began with a warning: firearms are not allowed. “ We have to be very careful of people who come to sabotage what we do. We demonstrate to express our frustration. »
Frustration with foreigners – illegals specify the organizers – whose presence, in general, disturbs these demonstrators. ” All the apartments are occupied by foreigners, all of Johannesburg is occupied by foreigners. »
” The majority of South Africans do not work. There are those who have university degrees but who stay at home due to lack of work. We want to find our country. »
At the foot of a building, a young South African observes the procession in silence. He rejects the claims of Operation Dudula. “ They do what they want, we don’t pay attention to them. We get on well, we’re all black, all African. I do not see where the problem is. »
The procession now stops in front of a supermarket run by Portuguese people. The police intervene. A protester speaks. “ Here they hire more than 90% foreigners, so they are asked: please leave. “All employees are in good standing, assures the boss. Operation Dudula gives him a week to ” to do the housework “.