Operation Ubuntu: A united stand against xenophobia in South Africa

On Saturday, Operation Ubuntu, a national and continental day of action against xenophobia, called on police officials in Cape Town and Johannesburg to address the issue with a list of demands. The day of action aimed to hold the state accountable for its role in encouraging vigilante groups. Demonstrations were held in Johannesburg, outside Durban City Hall, and in Hanover Street, Cape Town.

The memorandum of demands, presented to various departments such as the Department of Human Settlements, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Home Affairs, Department of Education, and the South African Police Service (SAPS), stated that Operation Ubuntu represents social justice organizations and movements. They demanded an end to the crisis of xenophobia and the broader conditions of deprivation affecting both migrants and South African citizens alike.

Key demands included land and housing justice, prevention of looting of Africa’s minerals, and an end to the inhumane conditions at the Lindela Repatriation Centre. The memorandum called for the establishment of a structured high-level oversight framework and an adaptive approach of upgrade, not eviction, for informal settlements and occupied buildings.

Operation Ubuntu also demanded an immediate two-year moratorium on expulsions to allow African migrants to obtain their documents and an end to the dysfunctional documentation system that leaves millions without IDs. The group called for the arrest and prosecution of individuals inciting violence and hate speech against foreign nationals, as well as drug lords and those responsible for mass shootings in communities.