Members of Operation Dudula are ramping up their efforts against Zimbabweans and all other foreign nationals attempting to register spaza shops and other businesses in South Africa, declaring a fierce opposition to government policies they believe favour outsiders over locals.
This bold stance comes in response to MEC Lebogang Maile's recent suggestion that those disrupting the registration process should face arrest.
Operation Dudula President Zandile Dabula stated, “South Africans are gatvol; we no longer want foreign nationals owning spaza shops. That is why we are at the civic centre to block the entrance, to stop them from registering.”
The situation escalated as members were seen chasing away vehicles they suspected belonged to foreign shop owners, and some even resorted to throwing bottles at cars trying to enter the centre. The chaos was exacerbated by the government's recent ultimatum to tuck shop owners, giving them 21 days to re-register their businesses or face closure.
Forum spokesman Michael Thamaga expressed a readiness to face the consequences of their actions.
"I told my wife that it was possible that I was not going to come back home because there was a chance I would be arrested and end up in jail," he said. Thamaga argued that many South Africans remain unaware of their rights, allowing them to be exploited.
“It is written in black and white that no foreigner can open a shop, hair salon or become a vendor in a foreign country,” he added, insisting that the same laws should apply in South Africa.
The provincial government has acknowledged the situation. Maile confirmed that foreign nationals will need valid documentation from the Department of Home Affairs to operate a business legally.
“Foreign nationals will be required to provide valid documentation from the Department of Home Affairs authorising them to operate a business in South Africa. This must be in the form of a valid business visa or work permit,” he explained.
Moreover, he stated that a foreign national must invest a minimum of R5 million into an existing business to be eligible for a business visa.
Police have been deployed to the 85 registration points identified across Gauteng to help maintain order. Maile stressed the importance of police visibility and intelligence in ensuring that the registration process runs smoothly.
However, tension remains high, with locals expressing frustration over what they perceive as unfair treatment during the registration process. Some South African spaza shop owners reported waiting for hours to be assisted due to the disruption caused by Operation Dudula.
Jabulani tuck shop owner Tseliso Nkomo, 54, voiced his discontent with the situation and said: “I’ve owned my tuck shop for more than five years and I’ve never had problems or was accused of poisoning children or anyone, but here I am. I was made to stand in the sun for four hours to re-register my business.” He argued that it is unfair for locals to endure such scrutiny while foreign nationals often attempt to register their shops under false pretences.
Another community leader, Amathandazo Mlungisi Duma, expressed concerns about the safety of food sold in foreign-owned spaza shops.
"These people recycle food, tamper with expiry dates, sleep in the same shop, and are dirty. They even sell expired food. Now they're told to register their shops. How will that assist the country?” he asked. He called for foreign nationals to leave, insisting that they do not need their services.
In the midst of this uproar, Operation Dudula has also expressed disappointment in South Africans who assist foreign nationals in the registration process. Dabula stated, “I’m really disappointed… South Africans; we keep fighting this for you guys but you keep turning us down.” She warned that those found assisting foreigners could face legal consequences.
In a recent address, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi acknowledged the community’s concerns surrounding food safety and the regulatory framework for spaza shops. He clarified that anyone legally residing in South Africa, including foreign nationals, is permitted to operate a spaza shop. However, he emphasised the need for stricter enforcement of the laws governing business operations for refugees and asylum seekers.
Lesufi also addressed the question of who is legally permitted to operate a spaza shop in South Africa. In a Monday interview on Newzroom Afrika, he clarified that, under current laws, anyone legally residing in South Africa is permitted to open and operate a spaza shop.
Responding to a question about licensing criteria, he stated, “Whoever that is here, legally and who has the capacity to run it (including foreign nationals) if they are here legally.”
He further elaborated on the legal nuances, stating: “Remember, if you are here for a specific purpose, for example as a refugee, there are many things you can’t do. That is the reason why we believe we need to intervene there. If you are here with full citizenship, there are things that you can do and there are things that you cannot do – for example you cannot participate in some of the activities of voting or being a representative in Parliament. It is the segmentation that we really need to strengthen. These by-laws assist us with that.”
