Mashaba warns Operation Dudula: Don’t turn a just cause into lawless chaos

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has called on Operation Dudula to rein in its hardline tactics and operate within the law, warning that South Africa’s democratic order cannot survive if activism slips into vigilantism. Speaking after meeting with the movement’s leadership, Mashaba said that while their concerns about undocumented migration are “understandable and justified,” their methods risk crossing a dangerous line.

“I think their cause is justified,” Mashaba said, “but the only concern I have is the manner in which they approach it. Please, one day, imagine you are in government. Would you allow people to break the law simply because they disagree with you?”

Mashaba’s intervention follows growing clashes between Operation Dudula members and migrants in parts of Gauteng, prompting a recent High Court interdict barring the movement from harassing foreign nationals or blocking access to health and public services. The court reaffirmed that only authorised officials — not civilians — have the right to request identity documents under Section 41 of the Immigration Act.

The ActionSA leader acknowledged that communities are feeling abandoned by the state amid rising unemployment and weak immigration enforcement. But he insisted that “law and order must remain non-negotiable.” He said his party would continue to advocate for stronger border control and deportation of undocumented foreigners — through Parliament, not the streets.

Mashaba’s remarks reveal the tightrope many political leaders are walking ahead of the 2026 elections: addressing public anger over migration while rejecting the vigilantism it has spawned. “We can’t fight lawlessness with more lawlessness,” he said. “Our democracy depends on discipline, accountability, and the rule of law — even when emotions run high.”