Johannesburg – Police have arrested two members of the anti-foreigner Operation Dudula after a scuffle when they attempted to march toward Nasrec Expo Centre – the G20 Leaders’ Summit venue.
Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, on Saturday, 22 November 2025, the first day of the summit, said the police prevented protesting Operation Dudula members from moving toward the venue.
Operation Dudula and several other disgruntled groups, including the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, resorted to protesting near the Nasrec Expo Centre.
The protesters were demanding, among other things, tougher border controls, the exclusion of foreign nationals from accessing public medical facilities, and schools.
However, when they attempted to move toward the venue, Brigadier Mathe said the police pushed the protesters back.
Police stopped the protesters from entering the Nasrec Road, a route used by foreign Heads of State and dignitaries to access the G20 leaders’ summit.
“Following several warnings by Public Order Police 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,” stated Brigadier Mathe.
“One police officer was injured and taken to a nearby medical facility for medical assistance.”
Brigadier Mathe said police arrested two Operation Dudula male members aged 46 and 54.
She said the Public Order Policing unit has registered a case of public violence, assault of a police officer, and contravention of a court order against Operation Dudula.
“It’s sad that the force that they [police] are showing us, they are not showing to criminals,” complained Zandile Dabula, the leader of Operation Dudula.
“The issue of illegal immigration is very important… we know that it affects South Africans, whether in health care, education, so the reason why we are here is that we want to put our problems on the world stage and what is the problem in South Africa.”
RELATED: High Court Halts Operation Dudula’s Unlawful Actions Against Foreign Nationals – The Bulrushes
The two-day G20 Leaders Summit ends on Sunday, 23 November 2025.
Meanwhile, in an earlier incident, police on Friday, 21 November 2025, foiled a brazen hijacking attempt of an unmarked car allocated to G20 summit security patrols and arrested a suspect.
Unbeknownst to the armed hijacker, the vehicle was being used by the police National Intervention Unit (NIU).
“While conducting patrols along Empire Road, the hijacker jumped onto the road and pointed a firearm at the driver,” recounted Brigadier Mathe.
“A shot was fired by one of the NIU members towards the suspect, and he sustained a gunshot wound to the upper body.”
The police spokesperson said it was later discovered that the suspected hijacker had used an imitation firearm.
The suspect was later taken to a hospital under police guard.
“He will appear in court for an attempted hijacking charge when he is fit to do so,” said Brigadier Mathe.
However, no explanation was given for the broken car window.
