Operation Dudula, which has been terrorising foreign-owned businesses, registered as a political party in September, raising fears from activists its vigilantism might go mainstream. 

It is now raising funds to contest the general elections in 2024.

As recently as Wednesday, Operation Dudula members in Naledi, Soweto, claimed foreign-owned shops were selling "dangerous" food. 

News24 reported two children died after allegedly eating biscuits from a local tuck shop. 

A founding member of Dudula, Zandile Dabula, said the incident in Naledi was why she believed its registration as a political party was necessary. 

Dabula told News24 the organisation had grown tired of being arrested and painted as ill-intentioned. 

She said its registration as a political party was intended to legitimise Dudula's existence. 

When asked whether the newly formed party aimed to legitimise criminality, Dabula denied this, saying its cause had only genuine intentions.

"We thought let us register as a political party and influence the laws because if we are outside the system, we cannot do much.

"They call us a vigilante group because they do not understand us. We have done a lot of good work. We are not moving from a vigilante group to legitimacy."

Dabula cited the removal of foreign nationals from businesses and access to government clinics as proof the organisation was doing a good job.

She did not want to acknowledge these acts were illegal. 

"We have placed many people in jobs, replacing foreign businesses with South Africans.

"We helped with lines at clinics because we know that foreign nationals wake up early to access healthcare. That does not happen now that Operation Dudula is around," Dabula said, claiming these acts were not problematic. 

"We are not fighting these people. We are fighting the government." 

Every aspect of Dudula's policy proposals seemed focused solely on the presence of foreign nationals, even on questions of education, health, and safety. 

The organisation sees foreign nationals as gatekeepers of South Africa's access to services. 

When asked why the fight is not focused instead on pushing for the government to increase access to essential services, Dabula said that was why the organisation was focused on pressing the government to do something about porous borders.

"We do not mind the government providing services to foreign nationals, but South Africans must take priority," she added.

Several organisations have previously pointed out how dangerous Operation Dudula's beliefs are.

The organisation was currently self-funded, said Dabula, who added she ran a construction business. 

The Socio-Economic Rights Institute has approached the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg to seek an interdict barring Dudula from harassing people.

The head of the refugee and migrants rights programme at Lawyers for Human Rights, Sharon Ekambaram, said communities the government had failed were being taken advantage of by Dudula. 

She added communities should instead make the government accountable for failures and not rely on the organisation.

"If you look at the incident in Naledi where Operation Dudula wants to chase all the foreigners out, saying they are selling spoiled food.

"Why has the community not challenged health authorities for not doing due diligence in sending health inspectors because that is their job?

"So, this is the problem where scapegoating flourishes where state institutions have failed to do their work," Ekambaram said. 

Dudula's political rhetoric will find similarities with other political parties as the country gears up for the election season.

The African National Congress has also spoken of the need to restrict access to jobs for foreign nationals.