The urgent application was reportedly struck off due to its “lack of urgency”. Foreign nationals in South Africa approached the court in hopes of stopping the campaign. While members of the movement have reiterated that they are not xenophobic, the campaign targets migrant traders. The group of foreign nationals who put forward the urgent application stated that it would prevent xenophobic violence as well as loss of life. TimesLIVE reported that Judge Jabu Dlamini was the one who dismissed the application.

Judge Dlamini stated that there were concerns about issuing a blanket ban against the group’s marching. He explained that there were no details on the march that he needed to put a stop to. The 38 foreign nationals, who live in Gauteng, want the court to interdict activities of Operation Dudula members. Operation Dudula is made up of South African citizens from numerous townships who are demanding that action be taken against illegal foreign nationals. Dlamini stated that he could not issue an order to prohibit marches as he does not know where and who will be part of it. “I can’t prohibit a march. We don’t know where and who is going to be marching. We don’t even know when they are going to march.”

Mabu Marweshe is the lawyer representing the group of foreign nationals. He stated that the Dudula movement was operating as if it were a syndicate. Adding that its next actions were not known by those who are not part of it. He further argued that members of Operation Dudula were a “law unto itself” as they had often had conflicts with police, adding that they do not respect law enforcement. Operation Dudula started in Soweto in 2021. This year it spread to Alexandra, Thembisa, Daveyton and the Johannesburg inner city which include Orange Grove and Hillbrow. The campaign has been making national headlines over the last few weeks as members attacked and stopped businesses that are run by foreign nationals in SA.