Police fired stun grenades and sprayed tear gas to disperse Operation Dudula members who attempted to push past barricades outside the Nasrec Expo Centre where world leaders gathered for the G20 summit on Saturday.
Two people were arrested after clashes with the police.
The clash was sparked when the crowd demanded to be allowed to get closer to the venue, saying they were not happy with the designated protest area about 1km from the venue.
Operation Dudula said it wanted the attention of international delegates on the country’s challenges, including the high crime and unemployment rates, as well as illegal immigration.
Operation Dudula’s Petuina Chauke said South Africa is in crisis and urgent intervention is needed.
“The reason we are here at the G20 is we want to tell the world that the security of South Africa is at stake, crime is very high, kids and women are being killed and we have a high unemployment rate, and I’m surprised that [President Cyril] Ramaphosa has only now declared GBV a crisis. Ramaphosa only entertains international affairs, he doesn’t entertain South African problems.”
Police spokesperson Brig Athlende Mathe said the 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.
She said despite several warnings by members, the group failed to adhere to instructions and a scuffle had ensued where they sprayed police with pepper spray, threw objects and pushed officers around.
She 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 speaker’s corner.
Two men aged 46 and 54 were arrested.
“The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) thanks other groupings who protested at the four allocated speakers’ corners situated near the venue for doing so within the confines of the law.”
TimesLIVE
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