Zandile Dabula stepped down as president and member of Operation Dudula

Dabula resigned Thursday as president and member of Operation Dudula Political Party, citing mismatched visions over its shift from community activism to contesting South Africa's 2026 local elections. Internal tensions arose as some leaders preferred staying focused on advocacy against illegal immigration. She plans to pursue education for self-improvement while supporting the cause differently, amid mixed online reactions from praise for her schooling choice to skepticism about her motives.
 

Operation Dudula, founded in Soweto, is an anti-migrant group that evolved from vigilante protests targeting undocumented foreigners—blamed for crime and unemployment—into a political party; "Dudula" means "force out" in Zulu, and it has faced accusations of xenophobia.

Dabula, who took leadership in June 2023 after co-founder Nhlanhla “Lux” Dlamini, said in her statement she is not abandoning social struggles but is no longer suited to lead through electoral politics, leaving the group without a named successor ahead of local elections.