Operation Dudula accused of trying to erase the legacy of African solidarity

Political commentator, Goodenough Mashego, has labelled Operation Dudula a xenophobic movement, accusing it of displaying a dangerous ignorance of South Africa’s history.

Mashego’s comments come as some social media users continue to criticise Operation Dudula leader Zandile Dabula, who failed to name the Frontline States during a recent TV interview with eNCA.

WATCH | A video of Operation Dudula leader Zandile Dabula has gone viral after she struggled to answer a simple question about what the “Frontline States” are on live television. Her responses were so off-topic that the presenter had to repeat the question three times before… pic.twitter.com/s8KJVRwqke

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The Frontline States — including Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Zambia — played a pivotal role in supporting South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle.

Mashego criticised Operation Dudula for its lack of awareness regarding Africa’s shared liberation history, calling it a troubling sign of historical amnesia.

“Because come to think of it, if you are going to start an organization or a lobby group and claim that you are advocating for a certain agenda, you need to read as much as possible about that. Because for her not to know what the frontline state is, I think it is very, very much telling about the whole Operation Dudula,” he said.

The Workers and Socialist Party has also weighed in, issuing a scathing letter in response to the incident.

The party says the incident goes beyond public embarrassment, but exposes the historical ignorance of xenophobic movements.

Party spokesperson Mmatlwe Sebei says this ignorance reflects a broader political agenda aimed at erasing the legacy of African solidarity.

He further contends that, rather than uniting the working class, Dudula is scapegoating migrants to distract from corruption, austerity, and the systemic failures of South Africa’s ruling elite.