Soweto residents say they are gatvol with crime
The 2021 version of June 16 Soweto Uprising.
It seems like the usual commemoration of Youth Day where people wear school uniforms and celebrate the day in a form of events will soon be the thing of the past in Soweto.
Youth Day was this year commemorated differently as Soweto residents took to the streets of Diepkloof to rise against crime under a movement called Operation Dudula.
It was a crime cleanup movement where residents wanted undocumented immigrants and their businesses to be removed from the area.
Although some people thought this is an act of xenophobia, community leader Peter Dime said the movement was not against foreign nationals but is aimed at fighting crime in the area.
“We want to mark the spirit of Youth Day by addressing issues that affect our community. This is not political. Operation Dudula was started by concerned residents who see the lives of their children go down the drain due to drug abuse and unemployment,” Dime said.
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The community says the scourge of nyaope abuse has been a nightmare in the area.
Unemployment is another issue and they alleged that they were being sidelined from work opportunities by the municipality which allegedly employs foreign nationals
The protesters started at the Diepkloof Community Hall to air their grievances with law enforcement agencies.
The first stop was the old post office opposite Diepkloof Square where illegal occupants were removed.
Followed by Diepkloof Zone 6 at an area known as Baghdad, allegedly notorious for drug dealing and prostitution.
Zone 6 Diepkloof is alleged to be the hub of drug dealing and they say if they can fight to kill the hub, the rest of the drug dealers will struggle to access drugs.
The marchers said this was just a warning and if people don’t listen action will be taken.
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