Africa-Press – Mozambique. The South African High Commission in Maputo has guaranteed that Mozambicans living in South African territory will be protected by local authorities against attacks linked to the so-called ‘Operation Dudula’.
High Commissioner Puleng Chaba went on to affirm that the Pretoria government would hold criminally responsible all those involved in the movement, which in recent weeks has led to the expulsion of foreigners and restrictions on their access to basic services.
For three weeks, activist groups and some local communities have been carrying a xenophobic campaign nicknamed ‘Operation Dudula’ aimed at preventing foreigners, including Mozambicans, from seeking care in public hospitals and attending schools, in addition to promoting their expulsion from neighbourhoods.
Distancing himself from these practices, Puleng Chaba emphasized that the South African government did not support this violence, but believed that social and economic problems should be resolved through dialogue.
“The government does not support this type of approach. We have always been known as a government that seeks to negotiate and discuss problems in an attempt to resolve them. We do not encourage crime, we do not encourage violence, but rather the enforcement of the law,” the diplomat stated.
The high commissioner stressed that all those involved in ‘Operation Dudula’ would be brought to justice and reiterated that state institutions had already been mobilized to ensure stability.
“The [South African] government will certainly use all its power to ensure that those involved are held accountable. Our goal is to continue building a society that deals with problems through dialogue and negotiation,” he added.
Chaba also assured that Mozambicans and other foreign citizens would have the same protection as South African nationals, urging that any incidents be immediately reported to local authorities.
“Mozambicans, like all foreigners, will be protected by our state agencies. They must remain calm and report incidents,” he said.
Regarding reports of deprivation of access to basic services, the ambassador assured that the government has mobilized resources to mitigate the impacts and ensure that affected communities are not left helpless while the situation is resolved.
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