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Former President Thabo Mbeki says it hurts him when he sees Operation Dudula blaming foreign nationals for South Africa\u2019s problems, adding that the nation\u2019s challenges cannot be blamed on migrants.<\/span><\/p>\n “When I see things like Operation Dudula, it hurts. We can\u2019t position ourselves as though we\u2019re enemies of other Africans,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n Mbeki was speaking in Johannesburg on Saturday at a Thanksgiving event marking the Thabo Mbeki Foundation\u2019s 15th anniversary.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>It\u2019s not right. There are problems – problems we have got to solve in this country – and we can\u2019t say those problems are caused by people who have migrated to South Africa. We have caused problems \u2026 But I\u2019m saying that\u2019s where we come from,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n His remarks follow growing concerns over Operation Dudula\u2019s actions. <\/span><\/p>\n The group is known for stationing its members at various public clinics and hospitals, especially in Gauteng, to check the legal status of foreign nationals using South African health care facilities.<\/span><\/p>\n Operation Dudula, now registered as a political party, has recently visited public schools in Gauteng, warning principals not to prioritise undocumented foreign nationals for the 2026 academic year.<\/span><\/p>\n Similarly, the March and March Movement in KwaZulu-Natal has undertaken comparable actions. <\/span><\/p>\n While some South Africans have supported the efforts of both groups, others have criticised their approach as inhumane.<\/span><\/p>\n Mbeki said that as South Africans look across the continent, there is much to be concerned about.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot to worry about. The stream of people who come to the foundation every day to discuss problems at home, on the continent, and beyond – asking what we can do,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n He added that three weeks ago, the foundation held a meeting on peace and security in Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOne of the things that happened – and I give this as an example – was that there were a lot of Congolese in attendance, because the situation in the DRC was on the agenda,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe met them, and they said that when people outside the Congo look at their country, they see conflict in the east, which is true. But they said there are problems elsewhere too, and that to address them, they need a national dialogue among Congolese to come together and decide what to do.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey said, \u2018now, President Mbeki, do something about that.\u2019 They were not requesting; they were insisting. We have since acted as they suggested. I can give many such examples of what the foundation is trying to do,\u201d Mbeki added.<\/span><\/p>\n He said the state of affairs across the continent remains deeply concerning.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cLook at Sudan, you see terrible things happening both north and south, with no solution in sight. People come to the foundation and say, \u2018Do something.\u2019 I think it\u2019s our responsibility; we can\u2019t run away from that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Mbeki emphasised that South Africa is not alone in facing serious challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe continent has got these huge problems. South Africa has got these huge problems. They need answers,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOne of the things that has been very moving and encouraging about the foundation, relative to the rest of the continent, is what people have said about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za<\/strong><\/p>\n Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Former President Thabo Mbeki says it hurts him when he sees Operation Dudula blaming foreign nationals for South Africa\u2019s problems, adding that the nation\u2019s challenges cannot be blamed on migrants. “When I see things like Operation Dudula, it hurts. We can\u2019t position ourselves as though we\u2019re enemies of other Africans,\u201d he said. Mbeki was speaking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":255187,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[6075,11534,8781,17402,9783,8782,9839,3175,588,5791],"class_list":["post-255186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-politics","tag-blames","tag-dudula","tag-foreign","tag-hurts","tag-mbeki","tag-nationals","tag-operation","tag-problems","tag-sas","tag-thabo"],"yoast_head":"\n