WATCH: Zandile Dabula pepper-sprayed, police clash with MK party, Operation Dudula outside G20 Leaders’ Summit

By Marcus Moloko

Operation Dudula leader Zandile Dabula was pepper-sprayed, and several protesters were arrested by police about a kilometre from the G20 Leaders’ Summit on Saturday.

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, together with members of anti-illegal immigrant group Operation Dudula, were met by a strong police presence as they picketed outside the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg.

Protesters from both the MK party and Operation Dudula demanded to be allowed to demonstrate within 100 metres of the venue, citing the “immigration crisis”, poor service delivery and high unemployment as their key grievances.

Police responded with tear gas and pepper spray when demonstrators moved away from the designated protest area while still demanding to speak with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

An unhappy Dabula said the show of force from police towards South Africans was concerning.

“The sad thing is that the force that they are showing to us as South Africans,