Operation Dudula has urged South African authorities to reconsider accepting Palestinian asylum seekers from Gaza, warning that unverified arrivals could threaten security during the upcoming G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg. The anti-immigration organization questioned the vetting process for approximately 153 Palestinians who arrived from Kenya and received 90-day visa waivers from the Department of Home Affairs. Founders Zandile Dabula and Sifiso L. Kekana called on International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola to implement rigorous background checks and relocate the refugees to Middle Eastern nations aligned with their cause.
Home Affairs defended the humanitarian decision, stating officials coordinated with the Palestinian embassy to process the group properly. The asylum seekers, predominantly families escaping violence, sought refuge partly because South Africa supported Palestine, including its International Court of Justice case against Israel. Public opinion remains divided between supporting strict immigration controls and honoring the country's refugee protection traditions.
Home Affairs defended the humanitarian decision, stating officials coordinated with the Palestinian embassy to process the group properly. The asylum seekers, predominantly families escaping violence, sought refuge partly because South Africa supported Palestine, including its International Court of Justice case against Israel. Public opinion remains divided between supporting strict immigration controls and honoring the country's refugee protection traditions.
