G20 Leaders' Summit | MK Party, Operation Dudula protest

During the G20 summit in South Africa, chaos erupted near the venue when protesters from the MK Party and Operation Dudula clashed with police. The groups were assigned a protest area deemed too distant from the summit site, preventing their messages from reaching dignitaries like President Ramaphosa and world leaders. Protesters argued this violated Section 17 of the South African Constitution, which allows picketing within 100 meters, and accused police of depriving them of their rights to voice concerns about national issues, including illegal immigration and challenges facing South Africans. They sought police escort to a closer location but were met with barricades, shields, and stun grenades, resulting in injuries and arrests. Two Operation Dudula members were detained on charges of public violence, assaulting a police officer, and contravening a court order prohibiting intimidation of foreign nationals, as their attempt to block roads was seen as harassment. Operation Dudula aimed to urge President Ramaphosa to prioritize South Africa's national agenda on immigration post-G20, while MK Party highlighted unresolved domestic issues during South Africa's historic hosting of the summit as the first African nation to do so. The situation later calmed with additional police reinforcements, including Nyala vehicles and shields, though tensions persisted as protesters continued demanding visibility for their cause.