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Claim: A viral video circulating on social media shows Michael Yao-Heng Sun, a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature for the Democratic Alliance in South Africa, allegedly “telling foreigners to leave” or “chasing foreigners,” with some posts praising him and linking his remarks to Operation Dudula.
Verdict: False! The video has been deceptively edited to remove its original context. Sun was speaking about crime and policing in Gauteng, not immigration or foreign nationals.
Full Text
A short video clip of Michael Sun has gained traction across platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), where it is being framed as evidence of a government official endorsing anti-foreigner rhetoric.
In several versions, the clip is overlaid with captions describing him as an “original indigenous South African” and applauding him for supposedly confronting migrants, with phrases such as “THANK YOU DUDULA” superimposed on the footage.
Given the history of xenophobic tensions in South Africa and the sensitivity surrounding migration debates, the claim warrants scrutiny.
DUBAWA examined both the viral clip and the full, unedited footage to determine whether the online interpretation is accurate.
Verification
A review of the complete video shows that the viral clip has been selectively cropped to distort its meaning.
The original footage, published by the Democratic Alliance’s Gauteng structures, captures Sun addressing a protest at the office of Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
In the full speech, Sun speaks extensively about the deteriorating security situation in Gauteng.
He references South Africa’s high murder rate, comparing it to levels seen in some conflict zones, and raises concern about the growing number of police officer suicides.
His remarks are directed at government accountability, particularly the perceived failure of authorities to ensure safety in communities such as Eldorado Park, Orange Farm, and Ivory Park.
The specific line featured in the viral clip, “We as Gauteng residents, we as South Africans, we had enough. Enough is enough,” appears toward the end of a longer argument about crime. However, the circulating version begins precisely at this point, omitting the preceding context that clearly establishes the subject as public safety rather than immigration.
Further manipulation is evident in the captions and overlays added to the clip.
The phrase “THANK YOU DUDULA” is an added graphic that attempts to associate his remarks with Operation Dudula, a group known for its anti-migrant stance.
There is no evidence that Sun or the Democratic Alliance endorsed or referenced the movement in the speech.
Contextual background further undermines the claim. Sun, a South African of Chinese descent, has previously been subjected to xenophobic abuse. In 2019, during his tenure in Johannesburg’s municipal government, he was targeted by protesters who told him to “go back to China.”
This history makes the narrative that he is promoting anti-foreigner sentiment particularly inconsistent with his public record.
Conclusion
The viral video of Michael Sun is a textbook example of manipulated context, where an authentic clip is edited and reframed to convey a false narrative. By removing key portions of his speech and adding misleading captions, social media users have recast a message about crime and governance as one about xenophobia.
There is no evidence that Sun called for foreigners to leave South Africa or endorsed anti-migrant actions. Instead, the full video shows he was addressing violent crime and demanding improved policing and accountability from provincial authorities. The claim is therefore false.
