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Protesters clashed with police near the Nasrec Expo Centre, which is hosting global leaders for the G20 summit.
- Protests outside the Nasrec Expo Centre turned violent as protesters clashed with police near the G20 summit venue.
- Members of Operation Dudula and the MK Party confronted police, demanding to move closer to the venue.
- Police arrested two Operation Dudula members on charges related to public violence and assault.
Protests turned violent outside the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on Saturday as protesters clashed with police near the venue hosting global leaders for the G20 summit.
Members of Operation Dudula and the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party confronted officers after demanding to move closer to the main summit venue.
Police, who had allocated the protesters a site more than a kilometre away, refused. It prompted anger from the groups, who said the distance made their demonstration “meaningless” and inaudible to international delegates.
Tensions escalated when some protesters attempted to leave the designated protest zone. Police blocked the route and, citing a “breach”, fired rubber bullets, tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
Dozens of Operation Dudula members were pushed back, with Eyewitness News reporting that the group’s leader, Zandile Dabula, was pepper-sprayed and escorted to her car to recover.
Operation Dudula said its protest aimed to draw global attention to South Africa’s challenges, including high crime and unemployment, as well as illegal immigration.
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Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed to News24 that two Operation Dudula members had been arrested.
In a statement, Mathe confirmed that the police’s Public Order Policing (POP) unit had registered a case of public violence, assault of a police officer, and contravention of a court order against Operation Dudula.
“This follows a protest near the G20 summit in which Dudula members attempted to forcefully march towards the venue and block Baragwanath and Nasrec Road, a route used by foreign heads of state and dignitaries to access the venue.
She said:
Following several warnings by POP members, the group failed to adhere to instructions and a scuffle ensued, where they sprayed police with pepper spray, threw objects and pushed around officers.
Mathe said one police officer was injured and taken to a nearby medical facility for medical assistance.
“Police then used a push-back method, using protective shields, to control the crowd and redirect them back to the speakers corner.
“Police confirms the arrest of two men, aged 46 and 54 years of age.”
Mathe added that the Natjoints thanked other groupings who protested at the four allocated speakers corners situated near the venue for doing so within the confines of the law.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with comment from police.
