This is what Operation Dudula and other protesters are demanding at G20

Civil groups, including the controversial Operation Dudula, are protesting just near Nasrec Expo Centre, where the G20 Leaders Summit is taking place.

They are demanding action on immigration, farm attacks, and civil servants’ pensions.

Their violent protest took place near the South Gate mall as the high-stakes summit continued.

National organiser of Operation Dudula, Freeman Bhengu, said they are protesting to draw attention to what they describe as the impact of illegal immigration in the country.

“We came here to make awareness of the sufferings which are faced by South Africans when it comes to issues relating to illegal immigration.”

“The issue of illegal immigration is very important and 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."

“We are not expecting much from the G20 in terms of addressing the problems faced by South Africans, but on a global stage we are here to say that South Africans are suffering under the issue of illegal immigration and we as Operation Dudula we have been raising this issue over the past five years, we have met every department, every minister and our concerns have not been addressed so we came here to raise them on the global stage and make the other leaders aware that South Africa is not running the way it is supposed to be.”

Asked what issues he hoped President Cyril Ramaphosa would raise during the summit, Bhengu said he was not expecting anything, claiming the president had failed to address immigration.

He said Ramaphosa had “labelled us as vigilantism and xenophobes, so this mentality and we accept that.

“What we can do to him is that with Operation Dudula we will make a difference in the country," he said.

Operation Dudula is known for its stance on illegal foreigners, often targeting them and attempting to stop them from accessing healthcare facilities, claiming the system is already overburdened. 

The government has addressed the organisation’s actions multiple times, but the group has continued to push its position.

Another organisation that is picketing near the summit is the No More Farm Murders, which says it want to raise the issue of alleged farm killings.

“We came here to raise awareness about farm killings. The President has denied it, but remember US president Donald Trump said there are white farm killings genocide here, but yes, I would say that 98% of farmers for all races have been killed,” the organisation’s, leader Phakamile Sitho claimed.

“The farm killing is happening in South Africa and we have to protect our farmers.”

“We are picketing here because the government has denied the farm killings, and we want the world to see that there’s farm killings in South Africa, it is happening,” Sitho added.

Meanwhile, members of the Civil Servants Pension Redress Movement (CSPRM) are also protesting near the centre during the summit to voice concerns over alleged discrimination against civil servants.

Chairperson Beauty Marry Malete-Phiri said they are highlighting the injustices faced by public servants.

“Whether the police, nurses, police, soldiers, teachers, we think that there should be a redress. Not everybody who is getting the GEPF or the government pension fund.”

“Some of our members are even getting SASSA grants. How are you supposed to live with a R2,000 grant? Our children have not turned to drugs, nyaope, and to crime as they are trying to help their very same grannies.”

She said they chose to picket during the summit to show the world how public servants are being treated.

“You know, with the G20 is just a pity because they put us here at the corner. We wanted all these government leaders from other countries to see and hear how previous and current public servants are being treated,” Malete-Phiri added.

The G20 Leaders Summit runs from 21 to 23 November.

The protest has since escalated into violence, with police using pepper spray on demonstrators near the centre.

IOL