Seminar by Dr John Mhandu (University of Mpumalanga)

Abstract:

The presentation examines the role played by the anti-immigration militia group Operation Dudula in instigating and propagating black-on-black killings in low-income South African communities. I used the recent killing of a Zimbabwean migrant, Elvis Nyathi, which stirred up the flames of xenophobia. Supplementary anecdotal evidence is also drawn from in-depth interviews with participants who witnessed the cases of Elvis Nyathi and other victims of violence against foreign nationals. I argue that Elvis Nyathi’s case is an example of how migrants in South African low-income communities are exposed to murderous violence and stripped of political significance. Theoretical insights are gained from Giorgio Agamben’s homo sacer concept to trace the extent to which Operation Dudula sees undocumented migrants as persons outside the protections of the law who are to be expunged from mainstream South African society and deprived of all rights. I lay bare the moralist position taken by this anti-immigrant group that migrants are to be treated as homo sacer (sacred man). I augment Agamben’s thoughtful ideas given Aristotle’s insight that man is a social animal who cannot live in isolation. The main argument herein is that Operation Dudula does not exist in isolation. South Africans must create relationships with the migrants in their communities.

Bionote:

Dr Mhandu currently is a Senior lecturer in Sociology at the University of Mpumalanga. He previously was associated with the University of KwaZulu Nata (2016 to mid-2023). During 2020 to 2023 he also served a position as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, while also being appointed as a research associate for Sociology at the University of Johannesburg until 2022. John’s work also led him to positions elsewhere (such as being head of Library and Information Resources at Workers College SA as well as the head of Workers College Research Institute). Dr Mhandu has experience as a content writer and language editor at the Excellence College of Engineering, Cosmetology and Technology. He served as an external examiner to various Universities; has published significantly in accredited journals and networked meaningfully with national, regional and international institutions. His research interests are migration, migrant labour, informal economy, activism and social theory. He has presented national and international conference papers and has been invited as a panellist to several conferences and strategic workshops. Dr Mhandu has received several awards and research grants. He is currently working on several research and book projects. He has vast experience in postgraduate supervision, grant writing, managing large research projects and mentoring young and emerging researchers.