Mbali Dhlamini18 November 2024 | 12:43

Operation Dudula: Ramaphosa choosing to prioritise foreign nationals over his own citizens

The group says allowing foreign nationals to register spaza shops in the townships disadvantages locals.

Operation Dudula: Ramaphosa choosing to prioritise foreign nationals over his own citizens

Screengrab of closed spaza shop in Naledi, Soweto, from EWN Reporter video

JOHANNESBURG - Civic group Operation Dudula has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of not prioritising South Africans in relation to the township economy.

The group said that allowing foreign nationals to register spaza shops in the townships disadvantaged locals.

Members have been demonstrating against foreign nationals registering their spaza shops in Jabulani, Soweto.

On Friday, the president announced that spaza shop owners had 21 days to register their shops or face immediate closure.

Operation Dudula’s president, Zandile Dabula, said the township economy should be reserved only for locals.

"Unfortunately, we have a president that chooses to prioritise foreign nationals over his own citizens. I mean he is giving these people 21 days to go and get their documents when they have already broken the law."