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The memory of the July 2021 Social Unrest remains fresh in South Africans’ minds. The chaos that ensued was powered by numerous anarchist messages on social media—and, as you know, led to what can only be described as a stain on the province’s history.
Yet now, it would appear that the legal world is fighting to minimise the possibility of social media driving chaos again. This follows a member of Operation Dudula appearing in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 6 April 2022.
Facing charges of incitement to commit public violence and contravention of Section 14 of the Cyber Crimes Act by publishing harmful data messages, 36-year-old Philani Gumede now finds himself answering for his actions.
KZN spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Natasha Kara, goes into detail. “It is alleged that Gumede created and forwarded a voice note to members of Operation Dudula, asking people to gather and remove Foreign Nationals and their goods and lock up the shops.”
Following his appearance, the courts granted Philani R5 000 bail with the following conditions in effect:
- He is not allowed to use his social media platforms to invite/encourage any violence against Foreign Nationals
- He must report to the Investigating Officer when he wants to leave the Durban area or province of KwaZulu-Natal
- He must report to his local Police Station every Friday between 6 am and 6 pm
But just what is Operation Dudula?
It is a movement that started in Johannesburg, where a small group of people forcibly close shops belonging to foreign nationals in the townships and city centre.
The group has grown to such an extent that police believe that the movement’s activities are likely to intensify xenophobic tensions and cause instability in South Africa’s neighbouring countries. This follows the police management briefing the Portfolio Committee on Police on Friday, 1 April 2022, regarding their investigations into Operation Dudula activities.
According to information, Operation Dudula members will be holding a march in Durban on Sunday, 10 April.
The march aims to see Operation Dudula hand over memorandums to both the Home Affairs office and the Point Police Station in South Beach. The memoranda will apparently be requesting that the Home Affairs office deals with the issue of alleged illegal foreign nationals living in Durban. Jointly, the police will be asked to rid the South Beach area of drug houses.
Furthermore, Operation Dudula’s Deputy Chairperson, Dan Radebe, stated that the eThekwini Municipality had granted the organisation the necessary permits for their march.
However, the eThekwini Municipality has denounced this as disinformation. eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela, says, “The application is currently being drafted, and will then proceed to the office of the city manager for approval or not.”
Mayisela further adds that the eThekwini Municipality permanently subscribes to the country’s constitution that guarantees a right to march. However, it has an enormous responsibility in ensuring marches are within the perimeters of the law and devoid of any threats to the rights of other citizens.
What are your thoughts on all of this? Share your views in the comment section below.
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