By Annisa Essack
07:09:2022

Nhlanhla “Lux” Dlamini has instilled dread and panic in the immigrant and refugee communities as part of Operation Dudula.

He came under the spotlight after sharing a video of himself on Facebook on July 13, 2021, when looting and riots gripped KwaZulu-Natal and extended to Soweto, Gauteng. Lux became an eKasi hero as he stood against looters, criminals, and lawlessness to protect the centrepiece of the township economy, the Maponya Mall.

The leader of the Soweto Parliament visited the Radio Islam International studio to share his opinion and to talk about the organisation.

Dlamini explained that the Soweto Parliament was in operation before Operation Dudula. He defined the Parliament as “a non-partisan people’s assembly that literally represents or reflects the people’s intelligence, collective intelligence in Soweto.”

Further, unpacking the work of the Parliament, he says that members of the taxi industry, hostels, police, non-profit organisations, leaders, and citizens of Soweto gather to deliberate on issues and find solutions that can be implemented.

He mentioned that others are starting up their parliaments within their communities to allow apolitical youth wanting to participate in uplifting the community.

According to Dlamini, leaders within the community, leaders of the industry, and heads of committees or organisations gain automatic membership in the Parliament.
The Executive structure takes care of the daily operations of Parliament. Below the Executive is a cabinet constituting five portfolios – Defence manages security. Finance oversees budgets and raises funds, Social and Economic Accountability. The final portfolio, Political Accountability, guarantees service delivery.

He says that the Parliament does not need funding.

Presently the Parliament is focusing on the Soweto Olympics, an event that aims to revive sports and remove youth idling on the streets aimlessly. Modelled on the Olympics, all the communities will be participating, and winners will receive medals, but the winning community will receive a million rand for building a sports facility. Companies like Betway and Sunshine Tours will sponsor the prize.

Dlamini shed light on how being exposed to the poverty and inequality of Soweto and simultaneously attending school in Sandton, a more affluent area, gave him the understanding and ability to navigate between them and use the experiences to uplift his community.

On the issue of illegal immigrants, he says that his experience working with police gave him insight that shaped his opinions and thoughts. His view is that government should be making more effort to ensure that undocumented and illegal immigrants are appropriately dealt with.

Dlamini says people are speaking for their well-being from a local perception. More engagement is needed between South Africans and those in the country illegally to find better ways to move forward. According to Dlamini, syndicates are using the South African medical facilities that overburden the tax-paying citizen.

“We can’t live that; every time we move, we must base it on law or an act that is man-made.”He added that human rights should be extended to the foreigners in need coming into South Africa, but to South Africans suffering within their own countries.

Regarding his vision of Africa as a united continent, he says it should be a continent respecting each other and co-existing to understand each other better.

He concluded that for the country’s sake, the youth must unite and learn to understand their differences but appreciate them whilst working together.

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