South Africa: new protest weekend against illegal foreign workers
Audio 01:15
Protesters from the Operation Dudula movement against illegal foreign workers march in Johannesburg on February 19, 2022. AFP - EMMANUEL CROSET
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
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).
Advertising
Read more
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
Romain Chanson
followed an Operation Dudula procession in the poor neighborhood 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 we ask them: please leave.
“All employees are in good standing, assures the boss.
Operation Dudula gives him a week to “
clean
up ”.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_EN
South Africa