Civil society groups prepare for protests at the G20 Summit
Law enforcement agencies have been deployed in various capacities to ensure the maintenance of law and order during this weekend's G20 Summit.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
Various community and interest groups have confirmed their intentions to hold peaceful pickets and protests at multiple locations, including near the G20 Leaders' Summit venue this weekend.
These groups, which include Operation Dudula, the ANC Women's League, Women for Change, and residents from Kokosi in Fochville, west of Johannesburg, plan to use this opportunity to bring attention to their social and political concerns before the global leaders attending the G20 Leaders' Summit on Saturday and Sunday.
In preparation for the summit, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) announced that protestors would be restricted to designated areas surrounding the summit venue.
Deputy National Commissioner for Policing, Tebello Mosikili, emphasised that non-compliance and attempts to disrupt the summit would be met with the full force of the law to ensure an incident-free event.
On Tuesday, Mosikili, alongside the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) Chief Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Siphiwe Sangweni, and South Africa’s Acting State Security Director-General, Ambassador Gloria Nozuko Bam, briefed the media on the state of readiness for the two-day summit.
"Designated speakers’ corners around the vicinity of Nasrec have been identified for this purpose. We will, therefore, not allow any disruptions, lawlessness, or damaging and defacing of G20 infrastructure, including posters. Ladies and gentlemen, all law enforcement agencies deployed to secure the event will enforce the law at all times and in all areas of deployment, including routes used by delegates, accommodation, and at this venue," Mosikili said.
Anti-migrant group Operation Dudula confirmed its plan to protest at the Nasrec Conference and Expo Centre on the day of the summit to highlight the hardships faced by ordinary South Africans.
On Wednesday, leader Zandile Dubula indicated that preparations for their peaceful picket were progressing well following a meeting with law enforcement agencies.
"We will be conducting a peaceful protest at the G20 Summit this weekend to highlight issues faced by our people, who are facing unemployment and poverty. We are in the process of finalising our application as we speak," Dubula stated.
Elliot Mtembu, representing the residents of Kokosi and Fochville, who have suffered months without running water, stated that their protest aims to expose service delivery failures by the Merafong Local Municipality and the Gauteng province.
While Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi had earlier this month expressed his intention to visit Kokosi to hear their concerns directly, he dismissed this promise.
Mtembu asserted that Lesufi's promise was insincere, saying: "We know for a fact that he has never taken us seriously; to him, we are like the unwanted stepchild of Gauteng. Our view remains that both Panyaza Lesufi and the entire Gauteng Provincial Government are fully aware of the dire plight of Merafong - a crisis deliberately created by ANC deployments."
Operation Dudula has confirmed its readiness to protest at the G20 Leaders' Summit outside the Nasrec Conference and Expo Centre this weekend.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
Advocacy group Women for Change is planning a nationwide shutdown on November 21, the day before the G20 Summit starts.
Their picket, focusing on raising awareness about gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and demanding the crisis be declared a national crisis, will take place across the country and at the City of Johannesburg chambers, not at the G20 Summit itself.
The ANC Women’s League also announced that its members would be protesting at Constitution Hill, addressing the same issues as Women for Change, ahead of the global event.