Police clashed with members of Operation Dudula on Friday afternoon after the group attempted to march toward the Nasrec Expo Centre, where world leaders are gathered for the G20 Leaders Summit. Authorities aslo wearing protective gear used teargas and fired stun grenades to disperse the crowd, who pushed back in defiance of the security cordon around the summit venue.
The G20 Summit is being hosted on African soil for the first time, with South Africa deploying heavy security across Johannesburg. Roads around the Nasrec precinct have been blocked off, with police warning that no unauthorised marches or gatherings would be allowed near the venue.
Despite this, dozens of Operation Dudula members gathered a few hundred metres from the summit entrance, saying they wanted to deliver a message to government and international leaders about unemployment, crime and migration issues.
When they attempted to move closer to the restricted zone, officers intervened. The confrontation quickly escalated, with police forming a shield line and firing stun grenades to push protesters back. Some Dudula members resisted, leading to a brief physical clash.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that two protesters (46) and (54)were arrested and one police officer. taken for medical checkup.
“Operation Dudula members started being unruly, wanted to forcefully march to the venue, where the G20 Leaders Summit is being held,” she said.
“They were warned not to march there…as you can see behind us its Baragwanath Road and Nasrec and it is used by guests to got to the summit so we cannot allow it to be blocked.”
She said after countless warned they “started assaulting police officers and pushing back police officer.”
She said the two sare facing public violence, assaulting a police officer and harassing and intimidating a foreign national, this according to Mathe they have “contravened the court order.”
Operation Dudula President Zandile Dabula accused police of using excessive force and insisted that the group was exercising its constitutional right to protest.
“We want other countries to know the issues we are facing in the country to form part of that meeting,” she said.
“But we are denied we are being placed two km from the event, picketing law says you must atleast be 100km from the place.”
The group has been known for staging marches targeting illegal immigration and calling for government to prioritise South Africans in the job market.
