Fix your mess — Operation Dudula blasts Mbeki

Operation Dudula has taken aim at former President Thabo Mbeki, accusing him of being responsible for South Africa’s ongoing immigration crisis. The movement claims Mbeki’s administration failed to secure the country’s borders and exercised poor leadership, which allegedly paved the way for a massive influx of undocumented foreign nationals.

In a statement, the group said, “Former President Thabo Mbeki must fix his mess. It was under his leadership that South Africa’s borders became porous, allowing illegal migration to spiral out of control. The country is still paying the price today.”

The movement’s criticism comes amid renewed national debate on immigration policy, xenophobia, and the strain on public services. Operation Dudula maintains that lax enforcement of immigration laws has hurt South African citizens by increasing unemployment and crime, and burdening hospitals and schools.

During his presidency from 1999 to 2008, Mbeki promoted the African Renaissance agenda, calling for greater continental unity and cooperation. However, Dudula argues that this idealism resulted in “open-door policies” that ignored the realities of border management. “Mbeki’s romantic vision of Africa without borders failed to protect South Africans from the social and economic consequences we face today,” the group stated.

The remarks have sparked mixed reactions. Some South Africans have defended Mbeki’s pan-African legacy, while others agree that his government’s policies failed to anticipate the migration pressures that followed.

Political analysts suggest Operation Dudula’s latest comments reflect growing frustration over the government’s handling of immigration and its effects on local communities.

The former president has not responded to the accusations.