Operation Dudula wants Khampepe removed as Marshalltown inquiry chair

Newly registered political party, Operation Dudula, has threatened to interdict the Commission of the Inquiry into the Marshalltown fire should Justice Sisi Khampepe not be removed as the chairperson of the commission.

Earlier today, YNews was told that Dudula submitted a letter to the commission, calling for Khampepe’s head.

The party is accusing her of de-campaigning it.

This follows her decision to recuse Thulani Makhubela following an application by residents of the building to have the advocate removed after several tweets from 2017 of him expressing his support for Operation Dudula resurfaced.

Wednesday’s proceedings of the inquiry came to a halt after a case brought on by the Inner-City Federation and the Socio-Economic Rights Institute took centre stage.

After hearing SERI’s case, Khampepe said: “He (Makhubela) has openly disseminated anti-foreign rhetoric in support of Operation Dudula and Put South Africa First. As the residents of Usindiso building state, Operation Dudula, is a focused niche group of persons sharing sincerely held strong views about the perceived slights and suffering of South Africans at the hands of foreign nationals.”

The inquiry is aimed at investigating the circumstances surrounding a deadly fire that tore through Usindiso building in August, claiming more than 77 lives.

The building had been illegally occupied by South Africans and illegal foreign nationals.

Speaking to YNews, Operation Dudula’s deputy secretary, Isaack Lesole, expressed concern over Khampepe’s remarks about the party.

He believes the could harm Operation Dudula’s reputation, ahead of next year’s general elections.

Lesole says the actions of the commission chair further emphasise the opinion of those who try to erode the party’s credibility, which will further hamper their efforts to secure support from South Africans.